do by

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To perform on behalf of someone or with someone in mind; to behave in a manner befitting someone.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Thực hiện vì lợi ích của ai đó hoặc với ai đó trong tâm trí

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Register: informal

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I've tried hard to do right by him. Even so, he continues to do badly by me.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “do by” mean?

To perform on behalf of someone or with someone in mind; to behave in a manner befitting someone.

Is “do by” formal or informal?

do by is generally informal.