days passed by

USAGE SUMMARY

"days passed by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the passage of time or the feeling of time passing. For example, "The days passed by slowly as I waited for my exam results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The days passed by slowly.

Huffington Post

Days passed by without news.

The Washington Post

Several days passed by, no Mr. Woodin appeared.

The New Yorker

"Before, I always used to complain that the days passed by too quickly.

The Guardian

Flaubert had included the following in an earlier draft: "All the sorrows of his life returned to him … from the first day to the last".' He cut this, but persisted (if hesitantly) with the awkward "jours"; I was sure that he intended this to be initially misread as the poetic and ambiguous "Days passed by the trellis", suggesting memories and the changing seasons.

The Guardian - Books

As the days passed by, however, I got used to this new situation, and I also grew accustomed to hearing almost every day that one of our relatives, friends, neighbors, or loved ones had been killed due to sectarian violence, car bombs, random shootings, or IED explosions.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Most days pass by smoothly with only funny stories to break up the monotony.

The New Yorker

He will show in Miami a large abacus that suggests the slowing down the time, dropping off the days passing by, just like rosary beads.

The New York Times

William James — little more of a believer than Freud — saw it as the enhancer of life: "Let Heaven smile upon the earth, and deities pay their visits; let faith and hope be the atmosphere which man breathes in; — and his days pass by with zest; they stir with prospects, they thrill with remoter values".

The New Yorker

Most days pass by unnoticed.

Huffington Post

However, I do not forget that everything is vanity, that I need art especially to count the days passing by.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "days passed by" to convey a sense of duration or the feeling of time elapsing, especially when emphasizing a waiting period or a change over time.

Common error

Avoid using "days passed by" excessively in narratives; vary your sentence structure and vocabulary to keep the writing engaging. Use more specific descriptions of what happened during those days instead of only remarking that "days passed by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "days passed by" functions primarily as an intransitive verb phrase indicating the passage of time. It describes the process of days elapsing, often emphasizing duration or a sense of waiting. Ludwig examples show its use in both neutral and slightly reflective contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "days passed by" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to describe the elapsing of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news media, scientific publications, and formal business documents. While versatile, be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms like "time elapsed" or "days went on" for varied prose. The phrase serves a descriptive purpose, conveying the passage of time and setting the stage for subsequent events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

days went on

Similar to the original phrase, but emphasizes the continuation of days.

as the days progressed

Similar to "days passed by", but emphasizes forward movement.

time went by

A more general and less formal way to describe the passage of time.

the days slipped away

Implies a sense of time passing unnoticed or being lost.

time elapsed

Focuses on the measurement of time rather than the experience of it passing.

time marched on

Suggests a steady and relentless progression of time.

with the passage of time

A more formal and descriptive way of indicating time elapsing.

the hours flew by

Emphasizes the quickness of time passing, unlike "days passed by" which doesn't specify speed.

the years rolled on

Emphasizes a long period of time passing.

as time unfolded

Suggests a gradual revealing of events over time.

FAQs

How can I use "days passed by" in a sentence?

You can use "days passed by" to indicate the elapsing of time, such as in "The "days passed by" slowly while I waited for news" or "As the "days passed by", my hope began to fade".

What is a more formal alternative to "days passed by"?

A more formal alternative is "with the passage of time". For example, instead of "Days passed by, and still no solution was found", you could say "With the passage of time, a solution was still not found".

What's the difference between "days passed by" and "days went by"?

"Days passed by" and "days went by" are very similar in meaning, both indicating the elapsing of time. "Days passed by" might imply a slightly more reflective or narrative tone.

Is "days passed by" grammatically correct?

Yes, ""days passed by"" is grammatically correct. The verb "pass" is used intransitively here, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. It's a common and accepted way to describe the progression of time.