go by
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To pass or move past a specific point, especially in reference to time.
To act according to or be guided by something (e.g., a rule, a name, a clock); to be known by a particular name or title.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase is polysemous. Its primary temporal meaning is intransitive (e.g., 'time goes by'). The meaning 'to be guided by' is transitive and phrasal (e.g., 'go by the book'). The meaning 'to be known as' is also transitive (e.g., 'he goes by the name Chip').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The temporal sense might be slightly more frequent in lyrical or reflective contexts in BrE.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Time + go byTo go by + NP (rule/name)NP + go by + NP (name/alias)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go by the book”
- “let something go by”
- “go by the board”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We must go by the latest market data.
Academic
The researcher decided to go by the established protocol.
Everyday
Don't go by that old clock; it's ten minutes fast.
Technical
The software goes by a strict encryption algorithm.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Several buses went by before ours arrived.
- In his professional life, he always goes by the book.
American English
- The years just go by so quickly.
- She goes by her middle name at work.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look! A big red lorry is going by.
- My dog's name is Robert, but he goes by Bobby.
- As the weeks went by, her English improved.
- You can't go by what he says; he often jokes.
- We'll have to go by the official guidelines, even if they seem slow.
- A decade has gone by since we last met.
- He goes by an alias online to protect his privacy.
- Judging by the going-by traffic, the roadworks must be finished.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine TIME walking BY you.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT / RULES ARE A PATH TO FOLLOW.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'идти мимо' for the temporal sense. Use 'проходить' (o времени). For 'go by the rules', use 'придерживаться правил', not a literal motion verb.
Common Mistakes
- *The cars go by the highway. (Use 'on')
- *I go by Peter. (Context: 'I am passing Peter' is correct, but 'I am called Peter' requires 'I go by the name Peter')
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'Too much time has gone by', what is the closest meaning of 'gone by'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot say 'go the rules by'.
No, that meaning is covered by 'stop by', 'drop by', or 'swing by'. 'Go by' implies movement past a point without stopping.
They are largely synonymous for the motion and temporal senses ('time passes/goes by'). 'Pass by' is slightly more formal. Only 'go by' has the meanings 'to be guided by' and 'to be known as'.
Use the structure: [Person] + goes by + [name/alias]. Example: 'William goes by Bill.' It means Bill is the name he uses.