ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go by

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford General-service

phr. v.. to pass in space or time; you use this when time moves forward or when someone or something moves past you.

phr. v.. 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.


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.

Particles
by
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + go + by
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.

© 2026 English Reference