drop by

phrasal verb·2 senses·particle by

Meanings

1

Make a brief, casual visit

Beside

Why “by”? Something stays near another thing.

“Friends dropped by unannounced.”
Friends visited briefly without warning.
“My cousin dropped by before lunch.”
My cousin visited briefly without much planning.
2

Make an unplanned brief visit

Beside
“Feel free to drop by anytime.”
Feel free to visit briefly without planning ahead.
“Drop by on Sunday if you are nearby.”
Visit briefly on Sunday if you are nearby.

Don't confuse with

drop bydrop round

Drop by means make a brief, casual visit. Drop round means make an unplanned visit to someone.

drop bydrop in

Drop by means make a brief. Drop in means visit briefly and unannounced.

Test yourself

“Friends dropped by unannounced.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

drop in

A contrast learners often mix up

Visit briefly and unannounced

drop round

A contrast learners often mix up

Make an unplanned visit to someone

come by

Same by pattern: beside

Pay a brief visit to someone

sit by

Same by pattern: beside

Take a seat close beside someone

stand by

Same by pattern: beside

Wait nearby, ready to act if needed; Stay loyal to what you said or promised; Wait, ready to act when needed; Watch without intervening

stay by

Same by pattern: beside

Continue to support or remain near someone

stop by

Same by pattern: beside

Make a brief, often unplanned visit

swing by

Same by pattern: beside

Drop in briefly while passing through; Visit briefly while travelling between places

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