walked by

USAGE SUMMARY

"walked by" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone passing close to a place or person. Example: She walked by the café without noticing her friend inside. Alternative expressions include "passed by" and "strolled past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

No one walked by.

The New Yorker

People walked by.

The New Yorker

A flight attendant walked by.

The New York Times

Then Betye Saar walked by.

The New Yorker

She'd walked by with Nipper.

The New Yorker

Someone walked by and said, "Hi, Ernie!

The New York Times

As the writer walked by the….

The New Yorker

Matt Lauer glanced as she walked by.

The New York Times

Several cops walked by and smiled.

The New Yorker

A man walked by carrying a briefcase.

The New York Times - Sports

Cohen walked by, shaking his head.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "walked by" to describe someone passing a specific location or person on foot. Be mindful of the context to ensure it accurately conveys the manner of movement.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions like "walked through" when you mean passing a location from the outside. "Walked through" means entering and traversing something, whereas "walked by" means passing alongside it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "walked by" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of passing a person, place, or thing on foot. As Ludwig AI shows, it often describes a simple, everyday occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "walked by" is a verb phrase used to describe someone passing a person, place, or thing on foot. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, predominantly in news and media. While the phrase is generally neutral, more formal alternatives like "proceeded past" might be suitable in professional settings. Be mindful of the preposition used, avoiding confusion with similar terms like "walked through". As a final point, remember that the phrase's versatility allows it to either simply describe an action or subtly imply intent, observation, or indifference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passed by

Uses "passed" instead of "walked", implying a general movement past something, not necessarily on foot.

went past

Similar to "passed by", but suggests a more continuous motion beyond a point.

hurried past

Indicates a quick and rushed movement.

strolled past

Indicates a leisurely and unhurried manner of walking.

marched past

Suggests a more formal and disciplined movement, often in a group.

drove by

Replaces "walked" with "drove", indicating movement in a vehicle.

cycled past

Specifies movement on a bicycle.

sailed by

Indicates movement on water, such as in a boat or ship.

flew past

Implies rapid movement through the air, typically in an aircraft.

glanced past

Focuses on the act of quickly looking while moving past.

FAQs

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

You can use "walked by" to describe someone passing a specific location or person on foot. For example, "She "walked by" the bakery every morning on her way to work."

What's the difference between ""walked by"" and "passed by"?

While both phrases indicate movement past something, ""walked by"" specifically implies movement on foot, while "passed by" can refer to any mode of transportation.

Are there any formal alternatives to ""walked by""?

In formal contexts, you might use "proceeded past" as a more sophisticated alternative to ""walked by"", though it carries a slightly different nuance of intentional movement.

Can ""walked by"" imply that someone ignored something?

Yes, depending on the context. "He "walked by" the homeless man without offering help" implies a deliberate act of ignoring someone.