rolling by

USAGE SUMMARY

"rolling by" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is moving past or happening in a continuous manner. Example: "The cars were rolling by as we waited at the bus stop." Alternative expressions include "passing by," "drifting by," and "gliding by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To date, many studies have been performed to characterize the genes controlling leaf rolling by analyses of the rolled leaf mutants in rice.

BMC Plant Biology

By using arrows several times, you can make him stop rolling by dodging the roll and hitting the diamond on his forehead when it lights up.

WikiHow

And then jeeps rolling by and bombs, guns, tracer bullets.

The Guardian - Film

The clouds were not rolling by, they were rolling in.

The Guardian

First, it gets the ball rolling by providing quick wins.

The Guardian

Meredith Berkowicz had thought a truck was rolling by.

The New York Times

When a guacamole cart comes rolling by, hail it.

The New York Times - Food

Boehner has definitely gotten the ball rolling by cutting Congress's own budget by 2.6 percent.

The New York Times

And moving forwards with things rolling by in your peripheral vision, that literal unspooling.

The Guardian

The engines churned, the ship sailed on and the spectacular beauty kept rolling by.

The New York Times - Travel

In Brooklyn, it felt as if the subway train were rolling by.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rolling by" to create a sense of continuous motion or progression, whether physical (like cars rolling by) or abstract (like time rolling by).

Common error

Avoid using "rolling by" in situations where there's no actual movement or progression. For example, instead of saying "Ideas were rolling by in the meeting", opt for "Ideas were discussed" or "Ideas were presented".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rolling by" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb. It describes the manner in which something is moving or progressing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a common and acceptable construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rolling by" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to describe continuous movement, the passage of time, or the progression of events. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s a standard and usable English expression. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media. When writing, ensure that the context involves actual movement or progression and consider alternative phrases like "passing by" or "moving along" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing by

Focuses on the act of something moving past a specific point or location.

going by

Emphasizes the passage of time or the progression of events.

moving along

Highlights continuous movement or progress.

proceeding onward

Stresses a forward direction and continued action.

starting up

Implies the beginning or initiation of something.

getting started

Similar to starting up, but with a focus on the act of commencing.

setting in motion

Highlights the action of initiating a process or event.

drifting past

Implies a gentle, passive movement.

gliding past

Suggests a smooth and effortless movement.

advancing steadily

Highlights continuous, gradual progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "rolling by" to describe something in motion, such as "The cars were "rolling by" on the highway" or to indicate the passage of time, like "The years were "rolling by" quickly".

What are some alternatives to "rolling by"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "passing by", "going by", or "moving along".

Is "rolling by" formal or informal?

"Rolling by" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

How does the meaning of "rolling by" differ from "passing by"?

While both phrases indicate movement, "rolling by" often implies a continuous, almost effortless motion, while "passing by" simply indicates that something has moved past a certain point. The subtle difference depends on context.