pass by

present singular third person passes by · participle present passing by · participle past passed by · past passed by

1. intransitiveTo travel past without stopping.First known use 14th c.

   I noticed my wife pass by with a bag of shopping.

   1 more example

   I can hear them whisper as we pass by It's a bad sign, bad sign

   2014 October 27, Taylor Swift, Ryan Tedder, “I Know Places (Taylor's Version)”, in 1989 (Taylor's Version), performed by Taylor Swift, published 27 October 2023

   Synonyms: go by, overgo, pass

2. intransitiveTo elapse.First known use 15th c.

   Nearly a year had passed by since I first laid eyes on him.

   Synonyms: go by, go past, pass

3. transitiveTo travel past (something) without stopping.

   It was hard to stick to my diet all weekend, especially when I passed by the pastry shop.

   2 more examples

   Though these notes have no pretensions to being a comprehensive catalogue, we cannot pass Euston by. Euston is not a typically English station.

   1941 August, C. Hamilton Ellis, “The English Station”, in Railway Magazine, page 358

   He even stole trinkets from villagers passing by.

   2018, Paul Bowers, The Panda Chronicles, Lulu.com, page 38

4. figurativelytransitiveto ignore; to disregard.First known use 14th c.

   I had the distinct worry that happiness would pass me by.

   3 more examples

   He explained the idea in great detail, but still, his boss passed by the idea without a mention.

   You'll never know it hurt me so, I'll hate to see you go / Don't pass me by / Don't make me cry

   1968, Ringo Starr, “Don't Pass Me By”, performed by The Beatles

   But your empty eyes seem to pass me by / Leave me dancing with myself

   1981 January 23, Billy Idol, Tony James, “Dancing with Myself”, in Kiss Me Deadly, performed by Generation X

   Synonyms: discount, disregard, ignore, misregard, pass, unheed · Antonyms: examine, pay attention, recognize

5. PhilippinesTo drop by.