Phrasal verb
go by
Definition
phrasal verb. to pass in space or time; you use this when time moves forward or when someone or something moves past you.
phrasal verb. to pass or elapse, typically in reference to time or physical movement; can also function as a copular verb meaning to be known by a specific name.
Examples
“The years go by so quickly when you are busy.”
“I stood on the corner and watched the parade go by for over an hour.”
“As the decades go by, the architectural landscape of the city continues to evolve into something unrecognizable to its older residents.”
Examples
simple
“The years go by so quickly when you are busy.”
contextual
“I stood on the corner and watched the parade go by for over an hour.”
complex
“As the decades go by, the architectural landscape of the city continues to evolve into something unrecognizable to its older residents.”
Usage
often used with time-related nouns like 'days', 'weeks', or 'years' as the subject.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'pass' (more formal) and 'elapse' (technical/academic); note that 'go by' is also used for names, as in 'he goes by the name of Jack'.
Pitfall
The time goes by fastly.
The time goes by fast.
while 'go by' is correct, it is often paired with the adverb 'fast' rather than 'fastly', which is not a standard English word.
Phrasal verb
Particles
by
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + go + by
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-by