time went by quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "time went by quickly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you're describing an event that seemed to pass quickly, and you don't want to give exact details about the timespan. For example, "The meeting ended before I knew it; time went by quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I had tons of fun, and the time went by quickly.

Vice

I had loads of fun and the time went by quickly.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He knows me, and he makes the time go by quickly.

Los Angeles Times

The time goes by quickly and you have to work with precision and purpose.

Vice

It seems to me that many patients find the time goes by quickly when they're doing this.

Disability and Rehabilitation

(physiotherapist 37 years old) It seems to me that many patients find the time goes by quickly when they're doing this.

Disability and Rehabilitation

This helps you work at a faster speed and seems to make time go by quickly.

WikiHow

"Time went by very quickly,"' Mr. Fink said.

The New York Times

I couldn't believe how quickly the time went by and now my little person was starting her educational journey.

Huffington Post

And it's a quick pace here, the time goes by very quickly".

The New York Times

Time went by fast.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "time went by quickly" to describe events or periods where the duration felt shorter than it actually was. It's appropriate in both casual and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, avoid using "time went by quickly" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for phrases like "time elapsed swiftly" or "time passed rapidly" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "time went by quickly" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating the swift passage of time. Ludwig confirms its usability. This phrase is commonly used to describe an experience where the perceived duration is shorter than the actual duration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "time went by quickly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the rapid passage of time, as affirmed by Ludwig. It’s most commonly found in news, science, and general contexts. While versatile, more formal situations might warrant alternatives like "time elapsed swiftly". Remember to consider the context when choosing your words. Ludwig's analysis underscores the importance of selecting the phrase that best suits the register and intended impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time flew by

Uses a different verb to convey the speed of time's passage; 'flew' suggests even greater rapidity.

time passed rapidly

Replaces the idiomatic 'went by' with the more formal 'passed rapidly'.

time elapsed swiftly

Employs 'elapsed' and 'swiftly' for a more sophisticated and formal tone.

time zipped by

Uses a more informal and dynamic verb, 'zipped', to emphasize speed.

time hastened

A more poetic and less common way to express the quick passage of time.

time blurred

Suggests that the time passed so quickly it was difficult to perceive distinctly.

time evaporated

Implies that the time disappeared almost unnoticed.

time vanished in a flash

Emphasizes the sudden and complete disappearance of time.

the hours melted away

Uses 'melted away' to create a vivid image of time disappearing effortlessly.

the clock ticked fast

Focuses on the mechanism of timekeeping to highlight the accelerated passage.

FAQs

How can I use "time went by quickly" in a sentence?

You can use "time went by quickly" to describe an experience that felt shorter than it was, like "The concert was so engaging that "time went by quickly"".

What can I say instead of "time went by quickly"?

You can use alternatives like "time flew by", "time passed rapidly", or "time elapsed swiftly" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "time went by quickly" in professional writing?

While "time went by quickly" is generally acceptable, more formal phrases like "time passed quickly" or "time elapsed rapidly" might be more suitable for professional writing.

Which is more accurate, "time went by quickly" or "time passed quickly"?

Both "time went by quickly" and "time passed quickly" are accurate and convey the same general meaning, though "time passed quickly" may sound slightly more formal.