# pass by

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pass-by
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To go past a person or place while you are moving. You use this when you do not stop to talk or visit.

For teachers: To move past a person, place, or object without stopping. The verb functions as an intransitive phrasal verb or as a transitive unit taking a spatial object.

## Examples

- I saw him pass by the office.
- Many tourists pass by the small museum without realizing it contains famous paintings.
- The stream of traffic continued to pass by the accident site, oblivious to the emergency workers struggling to clear the debris from the road.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I passed by the exam." but "I passed the exam." — Learners often add 'by' when they mean they were successful in a test, but 'pass by' only refers to physical movement.

## Usage notes

- Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that someone is moving past a point without stopping.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'pass' in the context of exams or success to prevent learners from using 'pass by' for achievements.

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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.