by design

phrase

: according to plan : by intention
The motor is loud by design.

Examples of by design in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Reworked by design studio Alta Projects, the cabin pairs whitewashed paneling and dark pine floors with a stone fireplace, George Nelson pendants, and a chalet-style kitchen in white oak and walnut. — Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026 But the process is still relatively rare — and difficult by design. — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026 This is by design, according to John Campbell, an economics professor at Harvard. — Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 23 Oct. 2026 Skarsgård’s wicker man is tall, blonde and handsome on the outside, but hollow by design. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by design

Rhymes for by design

See All Rhymes for by design

Browse Nearby Words

by degrees
by design
Bydgoszcz
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By design.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20design. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All