Definition of 'by way of'

by way of

phrase

You use by way of when you are explaining the purpose of something that you have said or are about to say. For example, if you say something by way of an introduction, you say it as an introduction.

By way of contrast, Manchester United will travel slightly more than 1,200 miles.

'I get very superstitious about things like that,' she said by way of explanation.

way

by way of

prepositional phrase [PREP n]

If you do something by way of a particular method, you use that method to do it.

[mainly British, written]

I teach psychology by way of a range of traditional lectures, practicals and tutorials.

way

by way of

prepositional phrase [PREP n]

If you go somewhere by way of a particular place, you go through that place in order to get to where you want.

The path goes under the river by way of the tunnel.

way

by way of in British

via

serving as

by way of introduction

in the state or condition of

by way of being an artist

way

by way of in American

passing through; through; via

as a way, method, mode, or means of

3. Chiefly British

in the condition or position of

by way of being a fine pianist

way

Example sentences containing 'by way of'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

There seemed little Arnold could say by way of argument. Lewis, Roy A TROUT IN THE MILK (1989)

They walked to the administration building by way of a connecting corridor. McKewan, Ian THE INNOCENT (1989)

Nearby words of 'by way of'

Source

Definition of by way of from the Collins English Dictionary

Relative clauses

Relative clauses tell us more about nouns. They function rather like adjectives, and are found as postmodifiers in a noun phrase. The noun that is modified is called the antecedent. Relative clauses ...