passing1 nounpassing2 adjective
passingpass‧ing1 /ˈpɑːsɪŋ $ ˈpæ-/ ●●○ noun [uncountable] 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- the passing of the Cold War
- They lost the game partly because of ineffective passing.
- Animals walked there, the vibration of their passing stirring Tallis from her earthly sleep.
- His passing leaves a sore gap in his family circle and in his wider circle of friends and acquaintances.
- In passing, we can note that one proposal for spaceflight is to use the pressure of photons from the Sun.
- It may be difficult for the modern reader to grasp the emotional effect of his passing upon his people.
- Other parents equate education with the passing of examinations.
- The passing of the Liverpool Corporation Act 1921 set the stage for inter-war policing.
- This resulted in the passing of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which introduces a strict liability regime for defective products.
Longman Language Activatorwhen a period of time passes
· Three weeks passed, and Max had still not found a job.· Years passed before she could bring herself to call me "Frank" without the "Mister".· Hardly a week goes by when I do not think of you.time passes/goes by · The side effects tend to subside as time passes.· I was trying to calculate how much time had gone by since I heard the scream.
formal if a period of time elapses, it passes, especially between two events: elapse before/since/between: · Nine years elapsed before he produced his eighth symphony.· It seems remarkable that nearly thirty years has elapsed since there was a major museum exhibition in the city.· A surprisingly long time had elapsed between the discovery of the body and the arrival of the police.
the process of time passing over a long period, especially when people or things change during this time - used especially in stories or descriptions: · Two children, a successful marriage, and the passage of time had helped Maisie to forget her unhappy childhood.· The early recordings have hardly stood up well to the passage of time.· The passing of time did little to lessen his grief.with the passage of time: · Behaviour and social attitudes change with the passing of time.· These ancient settlements have perished with the passage of time.
WORD SETSasphyxia, nounautopsy, nounbarrow, nounbequeath, verbbereaved, adjectivebereavement, nounbier, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounburial, nounbury, verbcasket, nouncatacomb, nouncatafalque, nouncemetery, nouncenotaph, nouncharnel house, nounchurchyard, nouncoffin, nouncommittal, nouncondolence, nouncoroner, nouncorpse, nouncortege, nouncot death, nouncremate, verbcrematorium, nouncrib death, nouncrucifixion, nouncrucify, verbcrypt, noundeath mask, noundemise, noundeparted, adjectiveD.O.A., adjectivedrown, verbembalm, verbend, nounepitaph, nouneulogy, nounexhume, verbexpire, verbfatality, nounfuneral, nounfunerary, adjectivefunereal, adjectivegrave, noungravedigger, noungravestone, noungraveyard, nounheadstone, nounhearse, nounhospice, nouninter, verbinterment, nounmausoleum, nounmorgue, nounmortality, nounmortician, nounmortuary, nounmortuary, adjectivemourner, nounmourning, nounmummify, verbmummy, nounnecrophilia, nounobsequies, nounpall, nounpallbearer, nounpassing, nounperish, verbplot, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbpyre, nounquietus, nounremains, nounrest, verbrigor mortis, nounRIP, rise, verbsarcophagus, nounsepulchre, nounshroud, nounthrenody, nountoll, nountomb, nountombstone, nountumulus, nounundertaker, nounundertaking, nounurn, nounvault, nounwake, nounwar memorial, nounwill, nounwinding sheet, nounwreath, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Wanting to go to Mexico was just a passing fancy (=the feeling did not last long). She still mourns the death of her husband. The old steam trains were much loved, and we all mourn their passing.
(=have only slight knowledge or experience of something) He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.
He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects. (=a quick comment made without thinking about it very carefully)· She got upset about a passing comment I made about her clothes.
Wanting to go to Mexico was just a passing fancy (=the feeling did not last long). (=mention something without much detail, especially while you were talking about something else)· She mentioned in passing that she had an eight-year-old son.
(=a brief mention when other things seem more important)· There was only a passing mention of the event in the paper.
She still mourns the death of her husband. The old steam trains were much loved, and we all mourn their passing. (=one that you make while you are talking about something else)· He made only a passing reference to his injury.
(=slight)· There was no more than a passing resemblance between the sisters.
(=one you pass in the street)· Do not give your camera to a passing stranger and ask him to take a picture of you.
(=a quick, not very serious thought)· He never gives his appearance more than a passing thought.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· So you wish to mark their passing with some action of respect to their memory.· Apt sounds mark the passing of the hours.· Little remains to mark their passing other than small artifacts, found in the middens of their daily life.· The only thing missing was any tribute to mark its passing.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- The passing of the years has not weakened his artistic ability.
- He noted, in passing, that he had lasted longer than Texas Sen.
- In Exodus the quails were mentioned only in passing.
- Like many more, presumably, we mention Ribblehead in passing.
WORD FAMILYnounpassoverpass ≠ underpasspassagepassingadjectivepassingpassable ≠ impassableverbpass
1the passing of time/the years the process of time going by: Most of the old traditions have died out with the passing of time. The passing of the years had done nothing to improve his temper.2mention/note something in passing if you say something in passing, you mention it while you are mainly talking about something else: He did mention his brother’s wife, but only in passing.3the passing of something is the fact that it has ended: The old regime was defeated, and few people mourned its passing.4the passing of a person is their death – use this when you want to avoid using the word ‘death’: Nothing could fill the gap in her life left by his passing.passing1 nounpassing2 adjective
passingpassing2 ●●○ adjective [only before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- passing fashions
- a passing glance
- At the time, I didn't give Alison so much as a passing thought -- I had other things on my mind.
- Most people take only a passing interest in their horoscope.
- Noise from the passing traffic could be heard from the backyard.
- Whether this is just a passing fad or a lasting fashion trend, only time will tell.
- After all, Levi admits to more than a passing interest in things financial, shall we say.
- Bernard reversed straight out of the new garage into the road and hit a passing van.
- But only for one passing second.
- Six-year-old Michael Smith and his parents were spotted by a passing yacht as they clung to a tiny buoyancy bag in darkness.
- The malaise about a shared intellectual and literary culture was short-lived, the product of passing confrontation.
THESAURUS
continuing for only a limited period of time: · I’ve got a temporary office job, but I hope I’ll find something more permanent soon.· I’m sure the problem is only temporary.· temporary staff· a temporary visa
temporary – used especially about arrangements or information that people may decide to change in the future. Also used about licences or governments which are only arranged to last for a short time: · Does the hotel accept provisional bookings?· They have set a provisional date for the next meeting.· a provisional driving licence· In June, the rebels claimed to have formed a provisional government.· Provisional figures yesterday from the Department of Transport showed that 4,274 people were killed last year — 6 percent fewer than the previous year.
[only before noun] temporary – used about something that you use for a short time until you can replace it with something better: · The Republicans will approve the one-month budget as a stopgap measure to keep the state operating.· This is only a stopgap solution to the country’s debt problem.
[only before noun] temporary – used about an interest, thought, or feeling that is short and not very serious: · Tonight’s game will be exciting, even to those with only a passing interest in the sport.· As a student, I didn’t give working in finance even a passing thought.
formal existing or popular for only a short time: · the ephemeral beauty of white snow on green trees and bare branches· Many new words, particularly slang, are fleeting and ephemeral.
formal continuing for only a limited time, or staying somewhere for only a short time – used especially to say that something is always changing, or people only stay somewhere for a short time: · the transient nature of life· transient changes in the electrical properties of the neurons· Arizona has a highly transient population.
time not long: · I lived in Tokyo for a short time.· Smokers have a shorter life expectancy than non-smokers.
especially written lasting only for a short time. Brief is more formal than short, and is used especially in written English: · The president will make a brief visit to Seattle today.· He coached Hingis for a brief period in the 1990s.
[only before noun] taking a short time to do something: · I had a quick look at the map.· He had a quick shower and then went out.
lasting only for a short time – used especially when someone wishes that a good situation had been able to last for longer: · short-lived success· The ceasefire was short-lived.· a short-lived romance· short-lived optimism about the economy
lasting only for an extremely short time – used especially when someone wishes that something had been able to last for longer: · a fleeting visit· a fleeting smile· She caught a fleeting glimpse of him.· a fleeting moment of happiness· a fleeting thought
lasting for a very short time – used especially about feelings or pauses: · There was a momentary pause in the conversation.· The momentary panic ended when he found his two-year-old son waiting happily outside the store.
[only before noun] lasting only for a short time – used especially when people are only interested in something or mention something for a short time: · passing fashions· He made only a passing reference to war.· It’s just a passing phase (=it will end soon).
formal lasting only for a short time, and ending quickly like everything else in this world: · Beauty is ephemeral.· the ephemeral nature of our existence· His wealth proved to be ephemeral.
Longman Language Activatorcontinuing for only a short time continuing for only a short time: · The meeting was shorter than I'd expected.· the shortest day of the year· a short course in aromatherapy· It would have been better if they'd closed the road for a short period of time while the repairs were done.
a quick action takes only a very short time, because you are in a hurry: · I took a quick look at the map.· Do I have time for a quick shower before we go out?· She's going to give me a quick lesson on Feng Shui this afternoon. · Can I ask just one quick question?
a brief pause, visit etc is short, especially because there is not much time available: · It was impossible to see everything during our brief visit to Paris.· After a brief intermission, the performance continued.
if something does not take long , you do it and finish it in a short time: · Let me show you how to use the program -- it won't take long.not take long to do: · We'll have the chicken drumsticks - they won't take long to thaw.it doesn't take (somebody) long to do something: · It didn't take long to solve the problem.· It sure didn't take you long to smell the food!
something that is temporary is expected to continue for only a short time and will not be permanent: · The doctor says the swelling is just temporary and should go down in a few days.· a temporary driver's license· They're living in temporary accommodation at the moment.temporary workers/staff/job etc: · Demand for temporary workers continues to rise.· Ben's found a temporary job until November.
something that is short-lived ends sooner than you want it to - use this especially about a feeling or relationship: · They had a passionate but short-lived affair. · We were glad to be home, but our happiness was short-lived.· However, the President's popularity may prove to be short-lived.
: passing thought/interest/fashion/phase etc one that continues for a short time and then quickly disappears: · At the time, I didn't give Alison so much as a passing thought -- I had other things on my mind.· Most people take only a passing interest in their horoscope.· Whether this is just a passing fad or a lasting fashion trend, only time will tell.
formal continuing for only a short time - used especially in literature: · No dictionary can really capture something as fleeting and ephemeral as slang. · Hopes of political unity in the region have proved ephemeral.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He had only ever shown a passing interest in sport.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Wanting to go to Mexico was just a passing fancy (=the feeling did not last long). She still mourns the death of her husband. The old steam trains were much loved, and we all mourn their passing.
He had only ever shown a passing interest in sport. (=have only slight knowledge or experience of something) He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.
He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects. (=a quick comment made without thinking about it very carefully)· She got upset about a passing comment I made about her clothes.
Wanting to go to Mexico was just a passing fancy (=the feeling did not last long). (=mention something without much detail, especially while you were talking about something else)· She mentioned in passing that she had an eight-year-old son.
(=a brief mention when other things seem more important)· There was only a passing mention of the event in the paper.
She still mourns the death of her husband. The old steam trains were much loved, and we all mourn their passing. (=one that you make while you are talking about something else)· He made only a passing reference to his injury.
(=slight)· There was no more than a passing resemblance between the sisters.
(=one you pass in the street)· Do not give your camera to a passing stranger and ask him to take a picture of you.
(=a quick, not very serious thought)· He never gives his appearance more than a passing thought.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The room is dark, but passing cars cast yellowy shadows upon the wall.· It was an uneasy switch from the difficulties of homeowners to a light-hearted story about hard-up baboons staging hold-ups of passing cars.· Windows like blind eyes reflected the lights of passing cars.· He said that he saw no one at the bus turn-about with a weapon and heard no shooting other than from the passing car.· She watched as the lights of a passing car lit up her basement ceiling, contemplating the patterns it made.· So the poor discarded animals are bounced down the road only to fall under a passing car.· The questioning face of a passenger in a passing car stared up at her.· Lydia and Betty pushed their way out on to the road and sat on the wall that protected the customers from passing cars.
· This was the brainchild of Martin and Hermon Bond, two farmers, who had more than a passing interest in golf.· Yet caddis larvae, who do precisely that, command only passing interest.· There were also rumours that newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell was showing more than a passing interest in Storehouse.· After all, Levi admits to more than a passing interest in things financial, shall we say.· Anyway, it does no harm for a politician to evince some passing interest in sport.· The backlash is awaited with interest by everyone, even those with only a passing interest in the music scene.· Overall, a must for the professional who already uses Illustrator 88 but of merely passing interest for the rest of us.· I forget who had mentioned to me that Geoff was rumoured to be taking more than a passing interest in her.
· I believe in trickle filters, but they rarely get more than a passing mention.· Tonight was not about money, but about winning, fun, maybe a passing mention in the morning's racing press.
· These shy creatures may sometimes be seen and have been known to stray on to the road, startling passing motorists.· He died in the arms of a passing motorist.· He was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital by a passing motorist and is being treated for leg and arm wounds.· Sam stood guard over his blood-covered friend and tried in vain to flag down passing motorists.· The gunman had stopped shooting and made off after a passing motorist arrived on the scene, the court heard.· And there he was he was held up and shown to passing motorists.· Her attacker ran off when a passing motorist stopped.· The five soldiers prove, as always, to be quite a spectacle for passing motorists.
· What was then judged professionally to be a passing phase continued for over four years.· For most young people it is a passing phase which they will grow out of, but for some it can become a habit.· This sometimes happens to men in middle age, and it is usually only a passing phase.
· Making passing references to the poor, the black and to women does not make one a radical or even a liberal.· Apart from one passing reference to the Statute of Labourers, social grievances do not appear in the petition.· Unfortunately it gives rise to distortions of political representation too notorious to require here more than passing reference.· Even a passing reference is sufficient, if readers will understand what is meant.
· And Charlie, as her lover, bears more than a passing resemblance to yesterday's hero, James Dean.
· We just seem like passing ships.
· I called on a conveniently passing traffic warden to help me out.· As always with such radical experiments, business people feared for their prosperity, equating passing traffic with increased turnover.· The shop assistant's attention was suddenly caught by something happening out on the road, in the passing traffic.· Repeated warnings are given to the peasants to stay away from passing traffic.· When he parked outside a row of shops, he stood for a moment examining the passing traffic.· The nearby village of Trans is a charming if undistinguished little place, ignored by passing traffic.· They might have been alone in the mountains, because the passing traffic never even penetrated their minds.
· He knows full well that we are not related, though he once waved to me from a passing train.· Frequently and for no apparent reason, there would be a chilling burst of wind and a roar as of a passing train.· Wendy and I were at once amused and embarrassed, but also concerned lest he be mown down by a passing train.· As far as possible original characteristics have been carefully preserved, though the wall can not be seen from passing trains.
· Dent is a throwback to medieval times bypassed by modern progress, an anachronism that has survived the passing years.· The passing years took their toll, of course, and he did go into a decline when Grandmother died.· Over the passing years, time had been kind to Caduta Massi.· Over the passing years, time had been cruel to nearly everybody else.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- As a young woman, she was pretty, slender, and graceful and she remained so with the passing years.
- Dent is a throwback to medieval times bypassed by modern progress, an anachronism that has survived the passing years.
- Over the passing years, time had been cruel to nearly everybody else.
- Over the passing years, time had been kind to Caduta Massi.
- The passing years took their toll, of course, and he did go into a decline when Grandmother died.
- Through the passing days, the biting cruelty of it all slowly healed, leaving only the scar tissue.
WORD FAMILYnounpassoverpass ≠ underpasspassagepassingadjectivepassingpassable ≠ impassableverbpass
1going past a place or person: Michael watched the passing cars. A passing motorist stopped to help.2passing days/weeks/years etc literary the days, weeks, years etc that pass: Her grief became less intense with the passing years. With each passing day she grew stronger.3a passing thought or feeling is short and not very serious: He had only ever shown a passing interest in sport.► see thesaurus at short4a passing remark is one that you make while you are talking about something else: He made only a passing reference to her achievements.