passing by

USAGE SUMMARY

"passing by" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you are referring to something quickly moving past a certain point, often in the sense of something that is fleeting. For example, "The bird flew by, passing by quickly and disappearing into the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You could see the ships passing by".

The New York Times

Not to mention that sharks passing by might be peckish.

Forbes

The driver and people who were passing by got injured.

Vice

This shows you that time is really passing by, fast.

WikiHow

Christ is passing by.

The Economist

Some people are passing by.

The New York Times

"We tried to stop people passing by".

The New York Times

I hadn't noticed Gandolfini passing by.

The New York Times

They were constantly passing by.

The New York Times

"I was just passing by".

The New Yorker

Watch the stream-lines passing by.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passing by" to describe a transient event or a brief encounter. It's useful for emphasizing the fleeting nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "passing by" when you mean "passing away". "Passing away" is a euphemism for dying, while "passing by" refers to physical movement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "passing by" is as a phrasal verb, acting as a verb phrase indicating movement or a transient state. As Ludwig AI recognizes, it describes the action of moving past something or someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing by" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe movement past a particular point. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent usage in news and media, as well as its appearance in a variety of other contexts. While it's generally considered to have a neutral register, it's essential to distinguish its meaning from similar-sounding phrases like "passing away". Use "passing by" to describe a transient event or a brief encounter, and remember that it focuses on the act of movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going past

Focuses on the act of movement and surpassing a specific point.

going by

A simpler and more direct synonym emphasizing the act of moving alongside something.

walking by

A simpler and more direct synonym emphasizing the act of moving alongside something by foot.

driving past

A simpler and more direct synonym emphasizing the act of moving alongside something by car.

drifting past

Emphasizes a gentle, effortless movement in a specific direction.

flowing past

Emphasizes a smooth movement in a specific direction.

glancing over

Implies a quick and superficial look, often without detailed examination.

marching past

Emphasizes a strong, powerful movement in a specific direction.

overlooking

Suggests a failure to notice something important, often unintentionally.

skimming through

Implies reading or reviewing something quickly without full comprehension.

FAQs

How can I use "passing by" in a sentence?

"Passing by" describes something or someone moving past a particular point. For example, "I saw a car passing by my house" or "Refugees were "passing by" our house".

What are some alternatives to "passing by"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "going past", "going by", or "drifting past".

Is it correct to say "passed by" instead of "passing by"?

Both "passed by" and "passing by" are correct, but they have different grammatical functions. "Passed by" is the past tense form (e.g., "He passed by the store yesterday"), while "passing by" is the present participle form (e.g., "He is passing by the store now").

What's the difference between "passing by" and "stopping by"?

"Passing by" implies movement without stopping, while "stopping by" means making a brief visit. For example, "I was just "passing by", I didn't have time to stop" versus "I'll stop by your office later today".