# stop by

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stop-by
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to visit a place or a person for a short time, usually while you are going somewhere else.

For teachers: to make a brief, often informal or spontaneous visit to a location or person, typically as an intermediate stop during a journey.

## Examples

- I will stop by your office later today.
- Since I was already in the neighborhood, I decided to stop by my parents' house for a quick coffee.
- The candidate intended to stop by the local community center to address voters' concerns before continuing to the evening's primary gala.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I will stop by to your house." but "I will stop by your house." — the preposition 'to' is not used after 'stop by' when followed by a destination.

## Usage notes

- often followed by a location or a person's house; implies the visit is not the main purpose of the day.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'drop by' and 'swing by', which are even more informal; 'stop by' is the standard neutral choice for a brief visit.

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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.