it has gone by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has gone by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a certain amount of time has passed or elapsed. Example: "Since we last met, it has gone by so quickly that I can hardly believe a year has passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adjusts its Medicare payments annually.Traditionally, it has gone by the area boundaries set by the Office of Management and Budget, including M.S.A.'s and metropolitan divisions, though it is not required to do so.

The New York Times

It has gone by in a flash.

The Guardian - Books

Lloyd: In one sense I am sort of shocked at how incredibly long our marriage is, and how fast it has gone by.

The New York Times

And in the midst of that overwhelm, it's so easy to say "No" to the things that would really nourish our souls, the things that we'll remember at the end of the year when we realize how quickly it has gone by.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Ronnie Peterson, despite driving with this ungainly thing stuck in front of his car managed to finish second in the drivers' championship but it had gone by the following season, possibly commandeered by March's laundry section as an ironing board.

The Guardian - Sport

She paused for a second, said it was great, and then added that it had gone by "way too fast". I smiled and said, "you're halfway through your first year!" She shook her head in disbelief and ran out the door.

Duke University

"Although I was thinking about baby fat - but I think most of it had gone by the time I went before the cameras".

Huffington Post

"But now people are realizing that while the economy may not be as strong they want it to be, the big fear of it collapsing has gone by the wayside," said Frans Preidel, a vice president of Brown Harris Stevens.

The New York Times

Before you know it, an hour has gone by and you've yet to attend to your task.

Huffington Post

But it has gone unacknowledged by Cricket South Africa, according to Ntini.

Independent

Since then it has gone up by more than three-fifths.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has gone by" to convey the passage of time in both formal and informal contexts. For example, "Since our last meeting, the project deadline has gone by quicker than expected."

Common error

Avoid using "it has gone by" when referring to future events. This phrase is exclusively for actions or time that have already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has gone by" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the completion of a period of time or the passing of an event. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts to describe time elapsing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has gone by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the passage of time. It functions as a verbal phrase with a neutral register, suitable for various contexts from news articles to academic papers. Ludwig confirms its proper use in expressing that a specific duration or event is in the past. While alternatives like "it has elapsed" or "time has flown" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. Remember to use it in past tense contexts and avoid applying it to future events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has passed

Simple and direct alternative to indicate the passage of time.

it has elapsed

Formal alternative emphasizing the completion of a time period.

time has flown

Emphasizes the speed at which time has passed, often used in informal contexts.

that time is past

Indicates that a particular period is over and belongs to the past.

it has slipped away

Suggests a subtle and perhaps unnoticed passage of time.

it is long gone

Emphasizes that something happened a long time ago and is no longer present.

it's been a while

Indicates that a significant amount of time has passed since a specific event.

it has faded away

Implies that something has gradually disappeared or lost its importance over time.

the time is gone

Focuses on the absence of time, emphasizing that it cannot be recovered.

it's history

Informal way of saying that something is in the past and no longer relevant.

FAQs

How can I use "it has gone by" in a sentence?

You can use "it has gone by" to indicate the passage of time. For example, "The deadline "it has gone by", and we need to submit the report immediately".

What are some alternatives to "it has gone by"?

Alternatives include "it has elapsed", "it has passed", or "time has flown", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it has gone by" or "it has went by"?

"It has gone by" is correct. "Gone" is the past participle of "go", while "went" is the simple past tense and is not appropriate in this construction.

What’s the difference between "it has gone by" and "it went by"?

"It has gone by" uses the present perfect tense, indicating a completed action with relevance to the present, while "it went by" uses the simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past without necessarily any connection to the present.