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By and by

adv, noun

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    After a short time. not-comparable

    "O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away!"

  2. 2
    After an indefinite period. not-comparable

    "Sit down, have a rest, and by and by you'll be feeling better."

  3. 3
    Immediately; at once. not-comparable, obsolete

    "When […] persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended."

Adverb
  1. 1
    at some eventual time in the future wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet." uncountable

    "I'm sorry ma'am, but your cat's gone on to the sweet by and by."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English by and by (“side by side, close together, alongside, on and on, continually, again and again, repeatedly”), equivalent to by + and + by.

Etymology 2

From Middle English by and by (“side by side, close together, alongside, on and on, continually, again and again, repeatedly”), equivalent to by + and + by.

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