stop by

visit somewhere for a short time, often on your way to another place

B1

What does "stop by" mean?

To stop by a place means to visit it briefly, usually without staying long. It often happens on the way to somewhere else, or as a small errand during the day — for example, picking something up from a shop or quickly checking in with someone at their office. The visit is always short; you would not use this phrase to describe spending a whole afternoon somewhere. It is a friendly, casual expression that often appears in invitations ('feel free to stop by') and requests ('could you stop by the pharmacy?'). It is especially common in everyday American English, though speakers worldwide understand it easily.

Examples

How to use it

stop by + place

The most common pattern — the place visited follows directly after 'by' as a prepositional phrase.

Can you stop by the bank before you come home?

stop by + place + to + verb

Use this pattern to explain the purpose of the brief visit.

He stopped by the office to drop off some paperwork.

modal + stop by + place

Modal verbs like 'could', 'can', and 'would' are very common, especially in requests and invitations.

Could you stop by the grocery store on your way home?

stop by (no object)

The location can be left out entirely when the context makes it clear — 'stop by' on its own means 'pay a brief visit'.

We're usually home on Sunday evenings, so feel free to stop by.

stop by + place + for + noun

Use 'for' to mention what the visit is about, such as a drink, a chat, or a quick meeting.

She stopped by the café for a coffee before her meeting.

Common Collocations

stop by the officestop by the pharmacystop by laterstop by for coffeestop by on your way homestop by anytime

Common Mistakes

Trying to separate the phrasal verb

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'stop by' cannot be separated — you cannot put a noun between 'stop' and 'by'. The place always comes after 'by'.

✗ I'll stop the pharmacy by on my way home.
✓ I'll stop by the pharmacy on my way home.
Using 'it' as a pronoun object

Because the place is a prepositional object, not a direct object, you cannot replace it with 'it'. Instead, use 'there' or leave the location out entirely.

✗ The shop is on your route — could you stop by it?
✓ The shop is on your route — could you stop by there?
Confusing 'stop by' with 'stop off'

'Stop off' emphasises a pause during a longer journey between two distant places, while 'stop by' focuses on visiting a specific place briefly, often as a favour or social call.

✗ We stopped by in Amsterdam on the way from London to Berlin.
✓ We stopped off in Amsterdam on the way from London to Berlin.

Usage

This phrasal verb is slightly more common in American English; British speakers often prefer 'pop in' or 'call in' in informal contexts. It always implies a short visit, so avoid using it when describing a long stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'stop by' more American or British English?

'Stop by' is slightly more common in American English. British speakers often prefer 'pop in' or 'call in' in informal situations. That said, 'stop by' is widely understood in both varieties and is not unusual in British conversation.

Does 'stop by' always mean the visit is unplanned?

No — unlike 'drop by' or 'drop in', 'stop by' can describe both planned and unplanned brief visits. For example, 'Could you stop by my office tomorrow at 10?' describes a completely planned visit. The key idea is that the visit is short, not that it is a surprise.

Can I use 'stop by' followed by a person's name instead of a place?

Not directly — 'stop by' is normally followed by a place, not a person. To mention the person, use their name with a place: 'stop by Maria's house' or 'stop by Maria's place'. If you want to use just a person's name, 'drop in on' is the more natural choice ('drop in on Maria').

Can I say 'I've been stopping by the office a lot lately'?

This sounds quite unnatural. 'Stop by' is not usually used in continuous tenses. To describe repeated visits, it is more natural to say 'I've been going to the office a lot lately' or 'I keep stopping by the office'.

Can I use 'stop by' to describe a long visit?

No — 'stop by' always suggests the visit is short. If you stayed for several hours or a whole day, it would sound strange to say you 'stopped by'. For longer visits, use a verb like 'visit' or 'spend time at' instead.

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