Phrasal verbs "go by" vs "stop by"

Differences between go by and stop by

Go by means to pass or travel past a place, while stop by means to visit someone or somewhere briefly.

Meanings and Definitions: go by vs stop by

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Go by

• 1. The passing of time.

  Ten years WENT BY before we saw each other again.

• 2. Trust or depend on for correct information.

  Don't GO BY my watch; it's usually a bit slow.

• 3. Pay a short visit, call.

  Nobody was at home when I WENT BY yesterday.

Stop by

• 1. Visit somewhere briefly or quickly.

  I must STOP BY the supermarket and pick up some things for dinner.

Usage Examples: go by, stop by in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

go by

Example

The days go by so quickly when you're having fun.

Example

Time goes by so fast when you're busy.

stop by

Example

I will stop by the store on my way home.

Example

She stops by her parents' house every weekend.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Go by

pass by

To move past or go beyond a place or object.

Example

The train passed by the small town on its way to the city.

travel by

To journey or move from one place to another.

Example

We decided to travel by car instead of taking the train to enjoy the scenic route.

drive by

To travel in a vehicle past a place or person.

Example

He quickly drove by the store to pick up some groceries before heading home.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Stop by

drop in

To visit someone or somewhere briefly and without prior notice.

Example

I'm going to drop in on my friend after work to see how she's doing.

pop in

To visit someone or somewhere briefly and informally.

Example

I'm going to pop in at the coffee shop to grab a latte before my meeting.

swing by

To visit someone or somewhere briefly and casually.

Example

I'm going to swing by the library to return these books before heading home.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “go”

• go back
• go in
• go back on
• go out for
• go before

Phrasal Verbs with “stop”

• stop behind
• stop back
• stop over
• stop up
• stop around

Phrasal Verbs with “by”

• check by
• live by
• zip by
• sit by
• fly by

Differences in go by vs stop by: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: go by or stop by?

Both phrases are commonly used in daily conversation, but stop by is more common when referring to visiting someone or somewhere. Go by is used more often when talking about passing by a place or traveling.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of go by and stop by

Stop by and go by are both informal phrases suitable for casual conversations. However, stop by can be used in more formal settings like business or academic contexts to refer to a brief visit.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of go by and stop by

The tone of go by and stop by can differ based on context. Go by typically has a neutral or observational tone when referring to passing by a place, while stop by has a friendly and social tone when referring to visiting someone or somewhere.

go by & stop by: Synonyms and Antonyms

Go by

Synonyms

• pass
• elapse
• proceed
• flow
• move
• advance
• progress
• roll on

Antonyms

• stop
• pause
• halt
• cease
• hold
• delay
• postpone
• stand still

Stop by

Synonyms

• visit
• drop in
• drop by
• call in
• swing by
• pop in
• come by

Antonyms

• avoid
• ignore
• bypass
• skip
• miss
• stay away