Pass by sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Pass by sb” Mean?

“Pass by sb” means to go past someone without stopping or to ignore something someone says or does. It can describe physical movement or a figurative action.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “pass by sb” is commonly used in English to describe situations where someone moves past another person or chooses not to react to something. Understanding the “pass by sb” meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts, both physical and metaphorical. For example, you might say, “I passed by him on the street,” or “She passed by his comments without responding.” This phrase is useful in everyday conversations and writing, making your English sound natural and fluent.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: pass by sb (pass by somebody)
• Type: Intransitive (when moving past); Transitive (figurative meaning)
• Level: A2–B2
• Short meaning: To go past someone or ignore someone’s words or actions

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Pass by sb” is generally inseparable. You cannot separate “pass” and “by” with the object (somebody).

Patterns:

• Subject + pass by + somebody (physical movement)
• Subject + pass by + somebody (figurative, ignoring)

Examples:

• She passed by me without saying hello.
• He passed by her comments during the meeting.

How to Use “Pass by sb”?

You use “pass by sb” when talking about physically moving past a person or ignoring their words or actions. It often describes casual or unintentional actions. For example, if you walk past a friend without stopping, you can say, “I passed by him.” In a figurative sense, if you ignore someone’s advice or remarks, you can say, “She passed by his opinion.”

Examples

Here are some natural examples of “pass by sb in a sentence” to help you understand how to use it:

• I passed by my neighbor on the way to work but didn’t have time to chat.
• During the conversation, he passed by her question and changed the topic.
• We saw a famous actor pass by us in the street yesterday.
• She often passes by his rude comments without reacting.
• Did you notice the car that passed by you just now?

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse “pass by sb” with other similar phrases or use it incorrectly by separating the phrasal verb.

• Incorrect: I passed him by on the street.
• Correct: I passed by him on the street.
• Incorrect: She passed by to his comments.
• Correct: She passed by his comments.

Remember that “pass by” should not be separated by the object “sb.”

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “walk past sb” and “ignore sb.” While “walk past sb” focuses only on physical movement, “pass by sb” can also mean ignoring someone’s words or actions.

For example, “walk past” is strictly physical: “I walked past him without stopping.” However, “pass by” can be figurative: “She passed by his warnings.”

“Ignore sb” means deliberately not paying attention, which is a stronger action than just passing by without reacting.

Common Collocations

Here are some common objects used with “pass by sb” and their meanings:

• Pass by a person: physically moving past someone
• Pass by comments: ignoring what someone says
• Pass by questions: not answering or addressing a question
• Pass by a place: moving past a location

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of pass by sb:

• Pass Sth Off As Sth
• Pass For Sth
• Pass Sb Over
• Pass Over Sb
• Pass Sth Over

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “pass by sb”:

Anna: Did you see Tom this morning?

Ben: Yes, I passed by him on the way to work, but he seemed busy.

Anna: I tried to talk to him, but he just passed by my question.

Ben: Maybe he was distracted.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “pass by sb”:

1. Yesterday, I __________ my teacher but didn’t have time to say hello.
2. She __________ the rude comment without reacting.
3. Did you notice the dog that __________ us on the street?
4. He __________ my question and changed the subject quickly.

FAQs

• What does “pass by sb” mean? It means to go past someone or ignore their words or actions.
• Is “pass by sb” separable? No, you cannot separate “pass” and “by” with the object.
• Can “pass by sb” be used figuratively? Yes, it can mean ignoring someone’s words or actions.
• What is the difference between “pass by sb” and “walk past sb”? “Walk past sb” refers only to physical movement, while “pass by sb” can also mean ignoring.
• Is “pass by sb” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.