What does the phrasal verb “stop by” mean?

What are the definitions of “stop by”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Visit somewhere briefly or quickly.

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

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “stop by”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb stop by is to visit a place briefly or quickly, usually for a short period of time or for a specific purpose. For example, it can mean visiting a friend's house for a short time or going to a store to buy something.

What are the different verb forms of “stop by”?

Root Verb	stop by
Third Person Singular Present	stops by
Present Participle	stopping by
Simple Past	stopped by
Past Participle	stopped by

Example

I will stop by the store on my way home.

Example

She stops by her parents' house every weekend.

Example

He is stopping by the office to pick up some documents.

Example

Yesterday, they stopped by the bakery to buy some bread.

Example

We have stopped by the coffee shop many times before.

What kind of phrasal verb is “stop by”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Intransitive verb

“stop by” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.

Example

I stopped by to say hello.

Example

She stopped by the store after work.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“stop by” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

I stopped by to say hello.

Example

She stopped by the store after work.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “stop by”?

Stop by for a visit

To visit someone's home or place of work for a short time.

Example

We should stop by for a visit when we're in town next month.

Stop by to do something

To visit a place briefly in order to do a specific task.

Example

I need to stop by the post office to mail this package.

Stop by on the way

To visit a place while traveling to another destination.

Example

We stopped by the museum on our way to the park.

Good things to know

Does “stop by” have an informal or formal tone?

Stop by is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and casual contexts. It can also be used in more formal settings, depending on the specific context. For instance, when discussing a business meeting or a professional visit, it can have a more formal tone. However, in most cases, stop by is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “stop by”?

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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