stops, stopped, stopping

to stop by
phrasal verb

Visit someone or a place briefly, often without prior notice
  • 1I will stop by your house after work.
  • 2She decided to stop by the store on her way home.
To stop by means to quickly visit someone or a place without planning ahead. It's like popping in for a short visit without staying long. It's usually a casual and informal visit, where you just drop by to say hello or check on someone.
Card
Remember, "to stop by" is usually used for informal visits. If you're planning a formal visit, like for a job interview or meeting, use "to drop in" or "to pay a visit" instead.
at a pet care center
A Surprise Visit for Fluffy
Kimberly
Hey James, I thought I'd stop by to see how Fluffy is doing.
James
Oh, that's great! Fluffy's been a bit anxious today.
Kimberly
I hope my visit helps calm him down a bit.
James
I'm sure it will. He always loves seeing you.
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Similar to "to stop by":
  • 1drop by
  • 2come by
  • 3pop in