pass by
B1Neutral. Common in both spoken and written contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To move past someone or something; to go by without stopping or interacting.
To happen without affecting someone directly; to disregard or overlook; (of time) to elapse.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A phrasal verb whose meaning can be literal (physical movement) or figurative (time passing, opportunities being missed). Often implies a lack of engagement with the thing being passed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slight preference for 'go by' in American English for the time-elapse meaning.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation (e.g., missing out on something).
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJ + pass by + OBJ (literal place/person)SUBJ (time/events) + pass by + (ADVERBIAL)pass + PRONOUN + byVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “let life pass you by”
- “a golden opportunity passed me by”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We can't let this market trend pass us by."
Academic
"Centuries passed by before the theory was rediscovered."
Everyday
"I saw him pass by the café but he didn't come in."
Technical
Used in navigation/transport contexts (e.g., "The vessel will pass by the port at 1800 hours.").
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She passed by the old bookshop every day on her way to work.
- I'm afraid the deadline has passed by; we can't accept late submissions.
- Don't just let those feelings pass by without examining them.
American English
- He passed by the new construction site and noticed the progress.
- Several good investment opportunities have passed by because we were too cautious.
- The storm passed by our city, causing only minor rain.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bus passes by my house at 8 o'clock.
- I passed by your office today.
- Years passed by before they met again.
- She felt like life was passing her by in the small town.
- A crucial clue had passed by unnoticed during the initial investigation.
- The new legislation passed by parliament with a narrow majority.
- Entire cultural movements can pass by the average person if they are not actively engaged with the arts.
- He adopted a philosophy of not letting grievances pass by without addressing them constructively.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bus STOP. To PASS BY is to NOT stop.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME/OPPORTUNITY IS A MOVING OBJECT (that can pass by a stationary observer).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'пройти мимо' (literal) vs 'проходить' (to take an exam). 'Pass by' never means to succeed in a test.
Common Mistakes
- *I passed by the exam. (Incorrect - means you walked past the exam paper, not that you succeeded)
- Confusing 'pass by' with 'pass away' (die).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pass by' used FIGURATIVELY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Pass' alone is more general (pass a test, pass the salt). 'Pass by' specifically emphasizes moving past without stopping or an event occurring without direct engagement.
Yes, both literally ('A stranger passed by me') and figuratively ('His comments passed by her unnoticed').
'Passed by' is correct. 'Past' is a preposition/adverb/noun, not a verb. 'Past by' is incorrect.
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot say 'pass the shop by'. It must be 'pass by the shop'.
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