Dictionary

pass by en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /pɑːs ˈbaɪ/ (UK)
• /pæs ˈbaɪ/ (US)
• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To travel past without stopping.
   • I noticed my wife pass by with a bag of shopping.
   • 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:
2. (intransitive, of a period of time) To elapse.
   • Nearly a year had passed by since I first laid eyes on him.
3. (transitive) To travel past (something) without stopping.
   • He even stole trinkets from villagers passing by. 2018, Paul Bowers, The Panda Chronicles, Lulu.com, page 38:
   • 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:
   • It was hard to stick to my diet all weekend, especially when I passed by the pastry shop.
4. (figuratively, transitive) to ignore; to disregard.
   • He explained the idea in great detail, but still, his boss passed by the idea without a mention.
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • I had the distinct worry that happiness would pass me by.
5. (Philippines) To drop by.

Forms

Antonyms

examine · pay attention · recognize

Hypernyms

move · transit

Synonyms

go by · pass · forthglide · go by · fly by · slip by · go past · overgo · ignore · unheed · forpass · overgo · misregard · go by · disregard · pass · pass by · discount · transpass · pass · roll on · pass