swing by

American

noun

Aerospace. a trajectory that uses the gravitational field of one celestial body to alter the course of a spacecraft destined for another body.

swing by British

verb

informal (preposition) to go somewhere to pay a visit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of swing by

1960–65, noun use of verb phrase swing by

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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swing by

Patrons described it as the kind of friendly business where groceries could be bought on credit and friends could swing by on Friday for karaoke night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Strickland said he would swing by, but “I gotta be real careful, you know what I’m saying?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025

Amy Poehler‘s return to the “Saturday Night Live” stage provided the perfect opportunity for several of her former castmates to swing by 30 Rock.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2025

After dinner, I will swing by my restaurants.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2024

I was on an Adirondack swing by myself, and 2.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

swing by

noun

verb

Etymology

Origin of swing by

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words