go by — use as identity
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to be known or called by a particular name or alias, especially one that is different from your official or original name.
Say it like a native
Textbook He is professionally known under the name Jack.
Native He goes by Jack.
'Go by (a name)' is the natural way to say what someone's called. The formal version is wordy.
Pattern: go by + name/alias
In use
- Although her full name is Alexandra, she goes by Alex at work.identity
- In many cultures, individuals may go by a nickname or a shortened version of their name in professional or social settings.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She goes by with the name Liz.
✓ She goes by Liz.
'Go by + name' directly — no 'with the name'.
Common collocations
go by + name— his middle name, a nickname, Jack, just one name
Don't confuse it
This sense is different from 'go by' meaning 'be guided by' (to use information/rules to decide) and 'time passes'. Here, it refers to the name someone uses or is known by, not to decision-making or the passage of time.
Related
- go by (time passes) — 'go by' also has the more basic meaning 'time passes'; this is the advanced sense.