B2 verb Neutral

bypass

/ˈbaɪ.pæs/

To go around or avoid a place, person, system, or procedure in order to save time or skip a requirement. In academic and technical contexts, it often refers to finding an alternative route or method to circumvent a problem or obstacle.

Examples

3 of 5
1

We decided to bypass the heavy traffic by taking the back roads through the village.

We decided to bypass the heavy traffic by taking the back roads through the village.

2

The committee voted to bypass the standard protocol in order to expedite the emergency relief funds.

The committee voted to bypass the standard protocol in order to expedite the emergency relief funds.

3

I usually just bypass the intro and get straight to the main part of the video.

I usually just bypass the intro and get straight to the main part of the video.

Word Family

Noun
bypass
Verb
bypass
Adjective
bypassed
Related
bypassing
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Memory Tip

Think of the word structure: BY + PASS. You are passing 'by' the side of the obstacle rather than through it.

Quick Quiz

The software update allows users to _______ the login screen for faster access.

Correct!

The correct answer is: bypass

Examples

1

We decided to bypass the heavy traffic by taking the back roads through the village.

everyday

We decided to bypass the heavy traffic by taking the back roads through the village.

2

The committee voted to bypass the standard protocol in order to expedite the emergency relief funds.

formal

The committee voted to bypass the standard protocol in order to expedite the emergency relief funds.

3

I usually just bypass the intro and get straight to the main part of the video.

informal

I usually just bypass the intro and get straight to the main part of the video.

4

The researchers developed a method to bypass the blood-brain barrier for more effective drug delivery.

academic

The researchers developed a method to bypass the blood-brain barrier for more effective drug delivery.

5

Our strategy is to bypass the middleman and sell our products directly to the end consumer.

business

Our strategy is to bypass the middleman and sell our products directly to the end consumer.

Word Family

Noun
bypass
Verb
bypass
Adjective
bypassed
Related
bypassing

Common Collocations

bypass security bypass security
bypass a problem bypass a problem
bypass the system bypass the system
bypass legislation bypass legislation
bypass the city center bypass the city center

Common Phrases

bypass the chain of command

to go over someone's head in a hierarchy

heart bypass

a surgical procedure to redirect blood flow

bypass the censors

to avoid being restricted by official reviewers

Often Confused With

bypass vs surpass

Surpass means to be better or greater than something, while bypass means to go around it.

bypass vs pass

Pass simply means to move by; bypass implies a deliberate act of avoidance or finding a secondary route.

📝

Usage Notes

Bypass can be used both as a verb and a noun. It is frequently used in technical, medical, and bureaucratic contexts to describe an alternative path.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'pass by' when they mean 'bypass'. 'Pass by' is passive movement near something, while 'bypass' implies a strategic choice to avoid a central path.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word structure: BY + PASS. You are passing 'by' the side of the obstacle rather than through it.

📖

Word Origin

Originates from the prefix 'by-' (meaning near or secondary) and the verb 'pass', first used in the 16th century to describe a side passage.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb: takes a direct object (e.g., bypass the rules) Regular conjugation: bypassed, bypassing
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Cultural Context

In many English-speaking countries, 'a bypass' is the common term for a major road built to take traffic around a town.

Quick Quiz

The software update allows users to _______ the login screen for faster access.

Correct!

The correct answer is: bypass

Related Words

trivacation

C1

Relating to or characterized by a holiday structure divided into three distinct segments or taken three times within a single year. It is frequently used in travel planning to describe a multi-destination trip or in corporate settings regarding staggered leave policies.

angeoion

C1

Pertaining to or functioning as a vessel or receptacle, particularly within botanical or biological systems to describe structures that enclose seeds, spores, or fluids. It denotes a protective or containing quality within the organism's morphology.

comforthood

C1

To actively cultivate or provide a state of deep emotional security and familiar ease for oneself or others. It describes the intentional process of shielding an environment or a person from external stressors to ensure a lasting sense of peace.

exphobant

C1

Describing something that tends to expel, drive away, or counteract fear and phobias. It is typically used in clinical, psychological, or specialized contexts to refer to agents or environments that alleviate anxiety.

syngraphious

C1

Describing a legal document or contract that is signed by all parties involved, rather than just one. It implies a mutual obligation where multiple copies are often produced and distributed to each signatory.

antecivence

C1

The state or quality of preceding in time, rank, or logical order. It refers to the condition of being prior to something else, often implying a sense of priority or historical precedence.

biscicy

C1

To divide a concept, object, or group into two distinct and often opposing branches to facilitate precise analysis or categorization. It is primarily used in technical or academic contexts to describe the act of bifurcating a process for efficiency or clarity.

malmanency

C1

The state of being poorly or improperly maintained, or a condition of persistent mismanagement that leads to deterioration. It typically refers to systems, structures, or administrative processes that suffer from long-term neglect or faulty upkeep.

misalicide

C1

To intentionally suppress, destroy, or 'kill' a message or written communication before it reaches its intended recipient. This term is often used in specialized vocabulary contexts to describe the interception and termination of correspondence.

ultracedment

C1

Ultracedment refers to the extreme or excessive act of yielding, conceding, or surrendering one's position or rights, typically far beyond what is considered reasonable in a negotiation. It describes a state of absolute capitulation where one party abandons almost all demands to satisfy another.

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