come by

B1 neutral inseparable both

In simple words

to stop and see someone, or to get something

Literal meaning: to move near or past a place

Meanings

1 A2 idiomatic informal

common

to visit someone or a place for a short time

"Why don't you come by after work for coffee?"

Grammar: inseparable

2 B1 idiomatic neutral

common

to obtain or acquire something

"Good seats were hard to come by."

"Jobs are hard to come by."
— Common news and public commentary phrase; no single reliable source recalled

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Very common in spoken English for visits. The 'obtain' sense is often used with things that are rare or not easy to get.

house office ticket information money chance

Base

come by

I/you/we/they

3rd person

comes by

he/she/it

Past simple

came by

yesterday

Past participle

come by

have + pp

-ing form

coming by

continuous

Try:

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visit drop by stop by obtain get acquire

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