go by

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 pass (used about time) B2
  2. 2 follow or be guided by something (rules, evidence, experience) B2
1 go by

pass (used about time)

B2

What does "go by" mean in this sense?

When 'go by' is used with time as its subject, it describes the simple passing or elapsing of time — often with a sense of reflection on how quickly or slowly that time has moved. It typically appears in narratives and personal stories, where a speaker looks back on a period and notes how much time has elapsed. Phrases like 'years went by', 'as the months went by', or 'a lot of time has gone by' are all very natural patterns. Compared to 'pass', 'go by' carries a slightly more contemplative, even wistful quality, which is why it fits naturally in reflective or storytelling contexts. The fixed expression 'as time goes by' is particularly well established and can be used in almost any situation.

Examples

How to use it

time expression + go by

The subject is always a time word or phrase — 'years', 'weeks', 'time', 'months', etc. — and the phrasal verb is intransitive, so no object follows.

Three years went by before she finally heard from him.

as + time expression + go/went by

This pattern, common in narrative and storytelling, signals a gradual change or progression happening over a period of time.

As the weeks went by, he started to feel much more comfortable in the new city.

time expression + go by + adverb

Adverbs like 'quickly', 'slowly', or 'fast' are frequently added to comment on the perceived speed of time passing.

The summer holidays went by so quickly — it felt like they were over before they began.

a lot of time / so much time + have/has gone by

The present perfect is common when connecting a past period to the present moment, often expressing surprise at how much time has elapsed.

I can't believe how much time has gone by since we graduated.

let + time expression + go by

This construction describes allowing time to pass, often implying that something was delayed or left undone during that period.

Don't let too many months go by without checking in with your old friends.

Common Collocations

time goes byyears went byweeks went bymonths went byas the days go bya lot of time has gone by

Common Mistakes

Using the present continuous

Saying 'time is going by' sounds very unnatural in English. For the general passage of time, use the simple present ('time goes by') or simple past ('time went by') instead.

✗ Time is going by so fast these days.
✓ Time goes by so fast these days.
Confusing the two senses of 'go by'

When the subject is a time word (years, weeks, time), 'go by' means to elapse. When the subject is a person with an object like 'the rules' or 'her name', it means to follow or use something as a guide — a completely different meaning.

✗ The rules went by quickly, so we weren't sure what to do.
✓ The years went by quickly, so we weren't sure where the time had gone.
Using 'will go by' for future time reference

'Go by' sounds unnatural in the simple future when talking about time — use 'pass' instead, or restructure the sentence.

✗ A few months will go by before we know the results.
✓ A few months will pass before we know the results.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. The fixed phrase 'as time goes by' is especially common and is safe to use in almost any context.

2 go by sth

follow or be guided by something (rules, evidence, experience)

B2

Sense 2: What does "go by sth" mean?

To go by something means to use it as your guide or basis for making a decision or judgement. You might go by the rules in a workplace, go by the evidence when forming an opinion, or go by your experience when facing an unfamiliar situation. The idea is that the thing you 'go by' shapes or justifies your reasoning — it's the standard you're measuring against or the source you're drawing on. A particularly useful construction is the participial form 'going by...', which works like a phrase meaning 'judging from' or 'based on' — for example, 'Going by her expression, the interview hadn't gone well.' This sense is distinct from simply following orders under obligation; going by something is softer, implying you're using it as a reference point rather than being compelled to comply.

Examples

How to use it

subject + go by + noun phrase (rule/standard/source)

The most common pattern — a person or group uses a rule, standard, or piece of evidence as a guide for decisions or judgements.

The hiring panel said they would go by the interview scores rather than personal recommendations.

go by + what-clause

When the source of guidance is expressed as a clause rather than a single noun, 'what' introduces it naturally.

I tend to go by what my colleagues recommend when I'm choosing a supplier.

going by + noun phrase / what-clause (discourse marker)

The participial form 'going by' can open a sentence to mean 'judging from' or 'based on', introducing the basis for a conclusion.

Going by the feedback so far, the new policy seems to be well received.

if + subject + go by + noun phrase

Conditional constructions with 'if we go by...' are very natural when presenting reasoning or drawing tentative conclusions from evidence.

If we go by last year's figures, demand is likely to peak in autumn.

you can't / shouldn't + go by + noun phrase

Negative constructions are common when warning that a particular source or standard is unreliable as a guide.

You can't always go by appearances — someone's style doesn't tell you much about their work ethic.

Common Collocations

go by the rulesgo by the evidencego by appearancesgo by experiencego by the figuresgo by what someone says

Common Mistakes

Separating the verb and particle

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'go by' cannot be separated — the object must always come directly after 'by', never between 'go' and 'by'. This applies to all objects, including pronouns.

✗ We should go the evidence by when making our decision.
✓ We should go by the evidence when making our decision.
Using the continuous form

'Go by' in this sense describes a habitual behaviour or a basis for reasoning, not an ongoing action, so continuous forms like 'we are going by the rules' sound unnatural. Use the simple present or past instead.

✗ The committee is going by the original guidelines to reach its verdict.
✓ The committee goes by the original guidelines to reach its verdict.
Confusing 'go by' with 'go on'

'Go on' (as in 'there's not much to go on') emphasises having limited or insufficient evidence, while 'go by' focuses on using a specific standard or source as your guide. They are not always interchangeable.

✗ We have the survey results, so let's go on those to plan the campaign.
✓ We have the survey results, so let's go by those to plan the campaign.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts. The participial form 'going by...' is especially common as a way to introduce reasoning, similar to 'judging by' or 'based on'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'go by' always need a time word as the subject?

In this sense, yes — the subject is almost always a time expression like 'years', 'weeks', 'months', 'days', or 'time'. If the subject is a person or a vehicle, 'go by' has a completely different meaning. The time word is what signals that you are talking about time elapsing.

Is 'as time goes by' a set phrase, or can I change it?

'As time goes by' is a very well-known fixed expression and is safe to use exactly as it is. You can also adapt the structure with other time words — for example, 'as the years go by' or 'as the months went by' — and these variations sound equally natural, especially in stories or reflective writing.

Is 'go by' the same as 'pass' when talking about time?

They are very close in meaning and often interchangeable, but 'go by' has a slightly more reflective or idiomatic feel, especially in fixed phrases like 'as time goes by'. 'Pass' can sound a little more neutral or formal. In everyday conversation and storytelling, both work well, but 'go by' is particularly natural in phrases where you are looking back on time that has elapsed.

Can I use 'go by' to talk about future time, like 'a few weeks will go by'?

This sounds unnatural. When referring to time in the future, 'pass' is the better choice — for example, 'a few weeks will pass'. 'Go by' is most naturally used in the past or in general statements about how time tends to elapse.

Does 'go by' always mean to follow rules? Can it apply to other things?

Not at all — the object of 'go by' can be almost anything you use as a guide or reference point. Common examples include evidence, experience, figures, instinct, appearances, gut feeling, and what someone has told you. The key is that the object is the basis or standard shaping your judgement or decision.

Can 'going by' be used at the start of a sentence?

Yes, and it's actually very common. 'Going by...' at the start of a sentence works like 'judging from' or 'based on', introducing the source behind a conclusion. For example, 'Going by his tone, he wasn't convinced' is a natural and fluent construction in both spoken and written English.

Does 'go by' have other meanings? I've seen it used differently.

Yes, 'go by' has at least two other meanings: one relates to time or movement passing (as in 'time goes by' or 'she went by the shop'), and another means to be known by a particular name (as in 'he goes by the nickname Flash'). The context — especially what follows 'by' — makes it clear which sense is meant.

Is 'go by' more British or American English?

It's used naturally in both British and American English with no significant regional preference. The sense of following or being guided by something is well established across all major varieties of English.

Can I use 'go by it' or 'go by them' with a pronoun?

Grammatically, yes — 'go by it' and 'go by them' are both correct. In practice, though, bare pronouns can sound vague without enough context, so learners often find it clearer to use a fuller phrase such as 'go by what the data shows' rather than just 'go by it'.

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