Basic Details
Word: Thereby
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: As a result of that; by that means.
Synonyms: Consequently, thus, thereby
Antonyms: N/A
Idioms and Phrases
- Thereby hangs a tale: This means that there is more to a situation than meets the eye, often with an interesting story behind it. Example: "She mentioned her trip to Spain, and thereby hangs a tale about her adventures there."
- Cut off your nose to spite your face: This phrase means to act against your own best interests, which could lead to negative consequences. If you are against something, don't act in a way that could hurt yourself; thereby, you would make things worse.
Usage Examples
Example 1: She completed her homework early, thereby allowing herself time to play later.
Example 2: The changes in the law were made to improve safety, and thereby, everyone felt more secure.
Example 3: The team won the championship, thereby earning a trophy for their hard work.
Fun Fact
The word "thereby" comes from the Old English "re" which means "there," and "by," and has been used as a way to describe the effect of an action since the 15th century.
Famous Quote
"Life is what happens when youre busy making other plans." John Lennon. This relates to "thereby" as it highlights how our plans can lead us to unexpected outcomes.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "thereby" mean?
a) In a different way
b) As a result of that
c) At the same time
d) For a long time
Answer: b) As a result of that
2. Which of these is a synonym of "thereby"?
a) Hence
b) Actually
c) Also
d) Before
Answer: a) Hence
3. What is the opposite of "thereby"?
a) N/A
b) Earlier
c) Everywhere
d) Anywhere
Answer: a) N/A
4. Which sentence uses "thereby" correctly?
a) She read the book and thereby learnt a lot.
b) He went to school and thereby played football.
c) She bought flowers thereby the garden looked pretty.
d) They ran and thereby made the cake.
Answer: a) She read the book and thereby learnt a lot.
5. Which idiom relates to "thereby"?
a) Cut off your nose to spite your face
b) Hit the nail on the head
c) The whole nine yards
d) A picture is worth a thousand words
Answer: a) Cut off your nose to spite your face
