1 A2 neutral
To pass a place or person while riding a bicycle, horse, or motorcycle.
"She rode by the café every morning on her way to work."
inseparable
ride by
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To pass a place while riding a bicycle, horse, motorcycle, or similar vehicle.
In plain English
To go past somewhere while riding something — a bike, a horse, or a motorbike.
What does "ride by" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To make a brief, casual visit on the way to somewhere else (informal).
"I'll ride by your place on my way home and drop off the book."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pass by a location while riding.
Actually means
To go past somewhere while riding something — a bike, a horse, or a motorbike.
Usage tip
Straightforward and transparent. Can also describe passing a person casually while riding. Less common with cars (use 'drive by' for cars).
Words that pair with "ride by"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
house school park shop slowly quickly
How to conjugate "ride by"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ride by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rides by
he/she/it
Past simple
rode by
yesterday
Past participle
ridden by
have + pp
-ing form
riding by
continuous
Hear "ride by" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "ride by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "ride by"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.