# check by

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/check-by
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to visit a place for a short time to see if everything is okay or to see if someone is there.

For teachers: to perform a brief, informal visit to a location or person for the purpose of verification, monitoring, or social contact.

## Examples

- I will check by your office later to see if you are free.
- On his way home, he decided to check by the construction site to ensure the gates were locked.
- The security supervisor requested that the night guard check by the laboratory every hour to monitor the temperature-sensitive equipment.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I'll check by of the house." but "I'll check by the house." — the phrase does not require 'of' before the location.

## Usage notes

- often used with a location or a person's house/office as the object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'stop by' (purely social) and 'check on' (focused on the well-being of a person); 'check by' implies a brief stop with a purpose of verification.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.