bypass

USAGE SUMMARY

"bypass" is a perfectly valid and usable word in written English.
It can be used as either a noun or a verb. For example, "The construction crew had to bypass the river to get to the other side of the road".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Travelling westbound along the M4, it's best to bypass Swansea and leave the motorway at junction 47.

The Guardian - Travel

Paterson is an enthusiastic supporter of GM crops and earlier this month said: "The longer Europe continues to close its doors to GM, the greater the risk that the rest of the world will bypass us altogether.

The Guardian

As Sir Bradley Wiggins cautiously negotiated the series of tight right-angle bends and speed bumps out of Knowsley safari park on to the Prescot bypass at the start of the time trial, one spectator watched his slow progress and said loudly: "I hope he speeds up a bit".

The Guardian - Sport

Running to more than 2,000 pages and costing hundreds of millions of euros, the report concluded that Lowry proceeded to bypass consideration by his cabinet colleagues and thereby not only influenced but also delivered the result that Esat Digifone had won the evaluation process, ultimately leading to the licensing award.

The Guardian

I can't see how they can do this if they bypass the courts".

The Guardian

Should universities bypass the media and communicate with the public directly?

The Guardian

The WHO's recent report on electronic nicotine delivery systems, sold as "e-cigarettes", refutes health and safety claims that are made for these products and alerts countries to the risks that tobacco companies may bypass advertising restrictions on conventional cigarettes and renormalise smoking.

The Guardian

A Coalition backbencher, Andrew Laming, wants a voluntary code of conduct on domestic halal and kosher-labelled food so that businesses can bypass the certification process and consumers can have more information about labelling.

The Guardian

Just short of a year after Labor's national secretary, George Wright, called for supporters to fund "Labor's own Crikey", a news service called the Labor Herald to bypass the mainstream media, the party has appointed an editor.

The Guardian

Mum had heart disease and went into hospital for a bypass but never survived the operation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The UK's largest independent producer is set to shake up the video-on-demand market by allowing viewers to bypass services such as LoveFilm and Netflix and catch hits including Shameless and The Only Way is Essex via its TV app.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bypass", ensure the context is clear whether you mean a physical detour or a figurative circumvention of rules or procedures.

Common error

Avoid using "bypass" when a more direct term like "avoid" or "ignore" would be more appropriate, as "bypass" often implies a specific alternative route or method.

Linguistic Context

The word "bypass" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a road or passage that avoids an obstruction. As a verb, it signifies the act of circumventing or avoiding something. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bypass" is a versatile term used as both a noun and a verb, indicating the act of avoiding something, be it physically or procedurally. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its correct grammatical usage. The word is most frequently found in news and media, business, and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral register. To ensure clarity, writers should consider the context to determine whether "bypass" is the most appropriate term or if a synonym like "circumvent" or "avoid" might be more precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

circumvent

Implies finding a way around obstacles or rules, similar to avoiding something.

go around

Suggests a more literal detour, like going around a physical obstruction.

evade

Highlights the act of escaping or dodging something, often with a negative connotation.

skirt around

Implies carefully avoiding a topic or issue.

detour

Refers specifically to taking an alternative route, literally or figuratively.

sidestep

Indicates moving to the side to avoid something, both literally and figuratively.

short-circuit

Emphasizes a quick and direct way of avoiding protocol.

override

Focuses on having the authority to ignore procedures or rules.

jump over

Suggests quickly moving past something, often a step in a process.

get around

Implies finding a clever or resourceful way to avoid a problem or rule.

FAQs

How can I use "bypass" in a sentence?

"Bypass" can be used as a noun, referring to a road that avoids a town, or as a verb, meaning to avoid something. For example: "The new road is a "bypass around the city centre" or "They tried to "bypass the security measures".

What are some alternatives to the word "bypass"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "circumvent", "avoid", "go around", or "evade".

Is it grammatically correct to use "bypass" as a verb?

Yes, "bypass" is grammatically correct as a verb. For instance, "The engineers had to "bypass the damaged section of the pipe".

What's the difference between "bypass" and "avoid"?

"Avoid" generally means to keep away from something, while "bypass" implies finding a way around or circumventing something. For instance, you might "avoid a dangerous area", but you "bypass a traffic jam by taking a different route.