plural gobies also goby
Synonyms of gobynext
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes (family Gobiidae) that usually have the pelvic fins united to form a ventral sucking disk

Illustration of goby

Illustration of goby

go by

2 of 2

verb

went by; gone by; going by; goes by

intransitive verb

: pass sense 3b
as time goes by

transitive verb

1
a
: to be guided or directed by : act in accordance with
going by the rules
went by what we'd been told
b
: to form an opinion from
You can't go by appearances.
2
: to be known by (a name)
goes by her birth name
goes by an alias
3
: to go (somewhere) especially to see someone
I went by your house yesterday.

Examples of goby 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.
Noun
Blennies and gobies are tiring to look at, darting every which way above. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 Researchers said the single specimen may represent a new cryptic species of Ward’s sleeper goby. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
So will an array of about 40 warships from around the world, anchored in the harbor as the sailing vessels go by. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026 As the years go by, Google and Apple have constantly enhanced ways for parents to control what their kids see and do online. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for goby

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin gobius gudgeon, from Greek kōbios

First Known Use

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of goby was in 1508

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goby. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

plural gobies also goby
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes that often have the pelvic fins united to form a sucking disk

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