by the way

Meaning

PrepPhrase

Incidentally; used in referencing a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.

Adv

Irrelevantly, off-topic.

Synonyms

incidentally

apropos

casually

parenthetically

in passing

by the bye

well

by the by

otherwise

moreover

obiter

accidentally

really

withal

for the rest

after all

furthermore

however

besides

merely

come to think of it

along the way

as a matter of fact

by chance

concerning

frankly

in this connection

nota bene

on the occasion of

on the way

or else

tell you the truth

be honest

about

Translations

übrigens

a proposito

à propos

a propósito

a propósito

por cierto

au fait

de paso

aliás

apropos

nebenbei

dicho sea de paso

per cert

beiläufig

trouwens

Etymology

First appeared in the 10th century with literal meaning "by the side of the road", from Old English weġ (which became "way") meaning "road". Soon afterward (circa 1000) it came to mean "during one's journey". The figurative meaning developed in the mid-16th century, with the first instance of the modern meaning being from 1614.