pass
1 of 4verb
ˈpas 
passed; passing; passes
intransitive verb
1
: move, proceed, go
The boat was too tall to pass under the bridge.
2
a
: to go away : depart
the fright passes almost immediately—
Fred Majdalany
Fred Majdalany b
: die —often used with on
Her parents have passed on.
3
a
: to move in a path so as to approach and continue beyond something : move past
especially : to move past another vehicle going in the same direction
glowered at the other driver as we passed
b
: to run the normal course —used of time or a period of time
the hours pass quickly
4
a
: to go or make one's way through
allow no one to pass
b
: to go uncensured, unchallenged, or seemingly unnoticed
let the remark pass
5
: to go from one quality, state, or form to another
passes from a liquid to a gaseous state
6
a
: to sit in inquest (see inquest sense 1) or judgment
b(1)
: to render a decision, verdict, or opinion
the court passed on the legality of wiretapping
(2)
: to become legally rendered
judgment passed for the plaintiff
7
: to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
the throne passed to the king's son
title passes to the buyer upon payment in full
8
a
: happen, occur
commenting freely on the transactions as they pass—W. L. Sperry
W. L. Sperry b
: to take place or be exchanged as or in a social, personal, or business interaction
words passed
9
a
: to become approved by a legislature or body empowered to sanction or reject
the proposal passed
b
: to undergo an inspection, test, or course of study successfully
took the examination and passed
10
a
: to serve as a medium of exchange
b
: to be accepted or regarded
drivel that passes for literature
c
: to identify oneself or be identified as something one is not
tried to pass as an adult
Mom could pass as my sister
11
a
obsolete : to make a pass (see pass entry 3 sense 5) in fencing
b
: to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate —often used with off
took the ball and quickly passed off to a teammate
12
a(1)
: to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game
Her bridge partner passed.
(2)
: to withdraw from the current poker pot
b
: to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
thanks for the offer, but I'll pass
—often used with on passed on the cheesecake
transitive verb
1
: to go beyond: such as
a
: surpass, exceed
passes all expectations
b
: to advance or develop beyond
c
: to go past (one moving in the same direction)
passed a slower moving car
2
a
: to go by : proceed or extend beyond
pass the school on their way to work
b(1)
obsolete : neglect, omit
(2)
: to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)
3
a
: to go across, over, or through : cross
b
: to live through (something, such as an experience or peril) : undergo
c
: to go through (something, such as a test) successfully
passed the final exams of his courses
4
a
: to secure the approval of
the bill passed the Senate
b
: to cause or permit to win approval or legal or official sanction
pass a law
c
: to give approval or a passing grade to
pass the students
5
a
: to let (time or a period of time) go by especially while involved in a leisure activity
I'll read to pass the time
b
: to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard
his commander quietly passed his likes or dislikes—George Meredith
George Meredith6
a
: pledge
had passed his word that he would repay the debt
b
: to transfer the right to or property in
pass title to a house
7
a
: to put in circulation
pass bad checks
b(1)
: to transfer or transmit from one to another
pass the salt
passing the savings on to customers
(2)
: to relay or communicate (something, such as information) to another
c
: to cause or enable to go : transport
waited till the soldiers and wounded were all passed over—Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman d
: to throw or hit (a ball or puck) especially to a teammate —often used with off
passed the ball off to his teammate
8
a
: to pronounce (something, such as a sentence or opinion) especially judicially
passed sentence on the convicted man
b
: utter
passed a cutting remark
9
a
: to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier
passed the detectives to view the crime scene
b
: to move or cause to move in a particular manner or direction
passed my hand over my face
pass the rope through the loop
c
: to cause to march or go by in order
pass the troops in review
10
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially the bowels
11
a
: to give a base on balls to
passed two batters
b
: to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (such as tennis)
passer noun
pass
2 of 4noun (1)
1
: a means (such as an opening, road, or channel) by which a barrier may be passed or access to a place may be gained
especially : a low place in a mountain range
2
: a position to be held usually against odds
pass
3 of 4noun (2)
plural passes
1
: realization
brought his dream to pass
2
: the act or an instance of passing : passage
3
: a usually distressing or bad state of affairs
what has brought you to such a pass?
4
a
: a written permission to move about freely in a place or to leave or enter it
b
: a written leave of absence from a military post or station for a brief period
c
: a permit or ticket allowing free transportation or free admission
5
archaic : a thrust or lunge in fencing
6
a
: a transference of objects by sleight of hand or other deceptive means
b
: a moving of the hands over or along something
7
archaic : an ingenious sally (as of wit)
8
: the passing of an examination or course of study
also : the mark or certification of such passing
9
: a single complete mechanical operation
also : a single complete cycle of operations (as for processing, manufacturing, or printing)
10
a(1)
: a transfer of a ball or a puck from one player to another on the same team
(2)
: a ball or puck so transferred
b
: passing shot
11
: base on balls
12
a
: an instance of letting something (such as an offer or opportunity) go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
Jackson toured the place with top designers, and execs looked over his … toy that resembled an animal. Mattel took a pass [=turned down the offer] and Jackson took the rejection well.—Pamela Lansden
Pamela LansdenPresident Donald Trump is expected to take a pass on handing out this year's National Teacher of the Year award honors—forgoing a tradition that dates to President Harry Truman.—Kimberly Hefling
Kimberly Hefling b
: an election not to bid, bet, or draw an additional card in a card game
13
: a throw of dice in the game of craps that wins the bet for the shooter compare crap entry 3 sense 2, missout
14
: a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
15
a
: effort, try
b
: a sexually inviting gesture or approach
16
: pase
pass
4 of 4abbreviation
passenger
Synonyms
Verb
- buck
- hand
- hand over
- reach
- transfer
Noun (1)
- canyon
- cañon
- col
- couloir
- defile
- flume
- gap
- gill [British]
- gorge
- gulch
- gulf
- kloof [South African]
- linn [chiefly Scottish]
- notch
- ravine
- saddle
Noun (2)
- check
- coupon
- pasteboard
- ticket
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The boat was too tall to pass beneath the bridge. A flock of geese were passing overhead. They pass the library every morning on their way to school. The ships passed each other in the night. We passed each other in the hallway without looking up. She passed two other runners just before the finish line. He passed the slower cars on the highway. The drug passes quickly into the bloodstream. In a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. The airplane passed out of sight. See More
Recent Examples on the WebEvan Halper, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2023 Our state was one of the first to pass an NIL law in 2020 that took effect on July 1, 2021. —Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2023 And Warren Buffett’s right-hand man Charlie Munger argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this month that the U.S. should follow China’s lead and pass laws that prevent both crypto trading and the formation of new cryptocurrencies. —Steve Mollman, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2023 Utah became the first state to pass such a law in late January. —CBS News, 15 Feb. 2023 Critics worry that his comments could summon the kinds of sentiments that led Japan to pass a eugenics law in 1948, under which doctors forcibly sterilized thousands of people with intellectual disabilities, mental illness or genetic disorders. —Hikari Hida, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2023 The Biden administration has pledged to defend DACA, and the president has urged Congress to pass immigration reform. —Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2023 Her attorney called on lawmakers to once again try to pass sweeping police reform laws like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which stalled in the Senate two years ago. —Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 6 Feb. 2023 The residents urged the council to pass a fair housing ordinance like Tucson's or other renter protections to combat the lack of affordable housing. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2023 Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023 Do an extra pass around any places where grease collects, like door and drawer pulls. —Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 18 Feb. 2023 The changes have led some market attendees to feel pressured into buying an additional festival pass, thus significantly increasing their costs. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 16 Feb. 2023 On fourth down with less than two minutes left, Colin Kaepernick of the Niners threw an incomplete pass in the end zone to Michael Crabtree, who seemed to have been held by Jimmy Smith of the Ravens. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2023 But after the referees initially ruled a fumble by Miles Sanders, the play was ruled an incomplete pass after a replay review. —Jim Chairusmi, WSJ, 13 Feb. 2023 On a third-and-8 play in the second quarter, he probably should have been flagged for interfering on an incomplete pass to Smith-Schuster. —Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Feb. 2023 An all-day pass is $100 during the week and $125 on the weekend. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2023 Frontier also is offering an annual pass at a cost of $1,299. —Dennis Rudner, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Feb. 2023 See More
Verb
The state is among several to either lift such a ban or pass a law encouraging development of small nuclear reactors over the last few years. —Evan Halper, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2023 Our state was one of the first to pass an NIL law in 2020 that took effect on July 1, 2021. —Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2023 And Warren Buffett’s right-hand man Charlie Munger argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this month that the U.S. should follow China’s lead and pass laws that prevent both crypto trading and the formation of new cryptocurrencies. —Steve Mollman, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2023 Utah became the first state to pass such a law in late January. —CBS News, 15 Feb. 2023 Critics worry that his comments could summon the kinds of sentiments that led Japan to pass a eugenics law in 1948, under which doctors forcibly sterilized thousands of people with intellectual disabilities, mental illness or genetic disorders. —Hikari Hida, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2023 The Biden administration has pledged to defend DACA, and the president has urged Congress to pass immigration reform. —Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2023 Her attorney called on lawmakers to once again try to pass sweeping police reform laws like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which stalled in the Senate two years ago. —Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 6 Feb. 2023 The residents urged the council to pass a fair housing ordinance like Tucson's or other renter protections to combat the lack of affordable housing. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2023 Noun
Southwest Airlines will update its onboard internet pricing Tuesday, moving from $8 for an all-day pass to $8 per flight leg, according to the airline. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023 Do an extra pass around any places where grease collects, like door and drawer pulls. —Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 18 Feb. 2023 The changes have led some market attendees to feel pressured into buying an additional festival pass, thus significantly increasing their costs. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 16 Feb. 2023 On fourth down with less than two minutes left, Colin Kaepernick of the Niners threw an incomplete pass in the end zone to Michael Crabtree, who seemed to have been held by Jimmy Smith of the Ravens. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2023 But after the referees initially ruled a fumble by Miles Sanders, the play was ruled an incomplete pass after a replay review. —Jim Chairusmi, WSJ, 13 Feb. 2023 On a third-and-8 play in the second quarter, he probably should have been flagged for interfering on an incomplete pass to Smith-Schuster. —Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Feb. 2023 An all-day pass is $100 during the week and $125 on the weekend. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2023 Frontier also is offering an annual pass at a cost of $1,299. —Dennis Rudner, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French passer, from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus step — more at pace
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French pas, from Latin passus
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pass
Kids Definition
pass
1 of 3 verb ˈpas
1
: move entry 1 sense 2, proceed
2
a
: to go away
the pain will soon pass
b
: die entry 1 sense 1 —often used with on
3
: to go by or beyond or move past
4
: to go or allow to go across, over, or through
let no one pass
5
: to change or transfer ownership or possession
recipes passed down through the family
6
: happen sense 2, occur
7
a
: to gain the approval of a legislative body
the bill passed both houses
b
: to approve officially
pass a new law
8
: to go or allow to go through an examination or course of study successfully
passed my French course
9
: to cause to be considered
passed for an expert
10
: to transfer or become transferred from one person to another
pass the butter
pass a football
11
: to decide not to bid, bet, or draw in a card game
12
: to cause or permit to elapse : spend
pass time
13
: to state judicially
pass sentence
passer noun
pass
2 of 3 noun1
: passage sense 2a, way
2
: a gap in a mountain range
pass
3 of 3 noun1
: the act or an instance of passing : passage
2
: accomplishment sense 1, realization —used in the phrases come to pass and bring to pass
3
: situation sense 3, condition
have come to a strange pass
4
: a written permission to enter or leave or to move about freely
a soldier's three-day pass
5
: a moving of the hands over or along something
6
: a transfer of a ball or puck from one player to another
especially : forward pass
7
: base on balls
8
: an act of passing in a card game
9
: effort sense 2, try
make a pass at it
Medical Definition
pass
transitive verb ˈpas
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially from the bowels : evacuate sense 2, void
Legal Definition
pass
intransitive verb1
a
: to issue a decision, verdict, or opinion
the Supreme Court passed on a statute
b
: to be legally issued
judgment passed by default
2
: to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
title passes to the buyer
transitive verb
1
: to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)
2
a
: to get the approval of
the bill passed the House
b
: to give approval or legal sanction to
the House passed the bill
3
: to transfer the right to or interest in
the sale passes the title to the goods
4
: to put in circulation
pass bad checks
compare utter 5
: to pronounce (as a sentence or judgment) judicially
passes 1 of 3
verb
1
as in hands
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another could you please pass me the phone? Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hands
- reaches
- transfers
- gives
- bucks
- carries
- hands over
- relays
- fingers
- renders
- delivers
- handles
- releases
- paws
- relinquishes
- yields
- surrenders
- cedes
- turns over
- bears
- gives up
2
as in stops
to come to an end eventually, the storm passed Synonyms & Similar Words
- stops
- ends
- expires
- ceases
- halts
- concludes
- terminates
- goes
- dies
- closes
- finishes
- lapses
- elapses
- determines
- breaks off
- stalls
- discontinues
- winds up
- leaves off
- quits
- breaks up
- lets up
- stays
- pauses
- suspends
- bites the dust
- dead-ends
- knocks off
- breaks down
- winks (out)
- cuts out
- gives over
- lays off (of)
- winds down
- abates
- packs (up or in)
- refrains (from)
- desists (from)
- peters (out)
- conks (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continues
- persists
- extends
- hangs on
- prolongs
- protracts
- draws out
3
as in leaves
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out Synonyms & Similar Words
- leaves
- hands
- transfers
- gives
- delivers
- transmits
- relinquishes
- delegates
- entrusts
- trusts
- grants
- consigns
- commits
- submits
- reposes
- commends
- distributes
- turns over
- hands over
- recommends
- gives over
- loans
- confides
- divides
- assigns
- intrusts
- bequeaths
- disperses
- dispenses
- lends
- vests
- confers
- furnishes
- surrenders
- releases
- supplies
- yields
- hands in
- hands down
- turns in
- retransmits
- advances
- retransfers
- deals (out)
- wills
- hands on
- redelivers
- recommits
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- holds
- retains
- keeps
- receives
- possesses
- owns
- accepts
- takes
- withholds
- reserves
- holds back
- detains
- occupies
- takes in
- takes over
4
as in enacts
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech Synonyms & Similar Words
- enacts
- approves
- constitutes
- lays down
- makes
- ordains
- permits
- legislates
- dictates
- authorizes
- ratifies
- executes
- repasses
- effects
- allows
- reenacts
- brings about
- proclaims
- decrees
- administers
- confirms
- sanctions
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- revokes
- repeals
- kills
- cancels
- invalidates
- reverses
- abolishes
- rescinds
- nullifies
- abrogates
- voids
- annuls
- overturns
5
as in happens
to take place and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted Synonyms & Similar Words
- happens
- comes
- occurs
- is
- does
- transpires
- comes down
- comes off
- comes about
- chances
- befalls
- goes down
- cooks
- rises
- goes on
- comes to pass
- haps
- develops
- proceeds
- materializes
- arises
- betides
- intervenes
- breaks
- follows
- turns out
- results
- falls out
- comes up
- shapes (up)
- goes off
- crops (up)
- springs (up)
6
as in undergoes
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it a presidential candidate who doesn't yet know how it feels to pass the scrutiny of the national press Synonyms & Similar Words
- undergoes
- experiences
- endures
- has
- sees
- knows
- feels
- suffers
- receives
- witnesses
- sustains
- tastes
- encounters
- goes through
- accepts
- meets
- digests
- assimilates
7
as in utters
to express (a thought or emotion) in words he'll occasionally pass some insightful comment, but in general he doesn't have much to contribute Synonyms & Similar Words
- utters
- speaks
- tells
- talks
- shares
- says
- states
- discusses
- gives
- verbalizes
- announces
- brings out
- articulates
- shouts
- publishes
- vocalizes
- looks
- declares
- puts
- whispers
- enunciates
- blurts
- promulgates
- breathes
- proclaims
- advertises
- puts into words
- shoots
- airs
- gets off
- posts
- voices
- asserts
- publicizes
- affirms
- broadcasts
- ventilates
- murmurs
- formulates
- spouts
- gasps
- sounds
- blazes
- vents
- blabbers
- bolts
- chirps
- mouths
- snarls
- words
- clothes
- formulizes
- alleges
- splutters
- avows
- drawls
- remarks
- lips
- avers
- comments
- avouches
- purrs
- phrases
- couches
- rips (out)
- pipes up (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suppresses
- stifles
8
as in refuses
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to we appreciate the invitation to the party, but we'll have to pass I'll pass on the coffee Synonyms & Similar Words
- refuses
- rejects
- declines
- ignores
- avoids
- withdraws
- denies
- spurns
- denies
- turns down
- dismisses
- vetoes
- throws over
- forbids
- disputes
- disapproves
- deselects
- repudiates
- passes up
- throws out
- nixes
- disputes
- overrules
- prohibits
- scorns
- disdains
- rebuffs
- reprobates
- retracts
- scouts
- negatives
- balks (at)
- revokes
- bypasses
- blows off
- renounces
- sticks
- turns one's back on
- proscribes
- shoots down
- recants
- recalls
- backtracks
- disavows
- contradicts
- refutes
- detours
- negates
- disowns
- abjures
- backs off
- gainsays
- disallows
- forswears
- takes back
- backs down
- disproves
- reneges
- controverts
- disclaims
- forbears
- rebuts
- foreswears
- abstains (from)
- refrains (from)
- unsays
- disagrees (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accepts
- receives
- approves
- takes
- agrees (to)
- swallows
- embraces
- adopts
- tolerates
- welcomes
- condones
- agrees
- consents
- selects
- chooses
- assents
- acquiesces
- supports
- accedes
- countenances
- espouses
- handpicks
9
as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass Synonyms & Similar Words
- flies
- works
- plays
- washes
- takes
- stands up
- holds water
- passes muster
- holds up
- goes down
- gets through
- goes over
- goes through
passes
2 of 3noun (1)
1
as in canyons
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter Synonyms & Similar Words
- canyons
- ravines
- gorges
- valleys
- gaps
- defiles
- saddles
- cols
- gulches
- linns
- couloirs
- flumes
- notches
- crevices
- trenches
- cañons
- abysses
- kloofs
- gills
- fissures
- gulfs
- draws
- clefts
- washes
- chasms
- basins
- vales
- glens
- crevasses
- cirques
- combes
- gutters
- dales
- hollows
- kettles
- dells
- gullies
- coulees
- coombes
- arroyos
- coombs
- troughs
- cwms
- barrancos
- gulleys
- barrancas
- wadis
- nullahs
- floodplains
- shut-ins
2
as in routes
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel take the second pass on the right Synonyms & Similar Words
- routes
- highways
- streets
- roads
- drives
- thoroughfares
- freeways
- expressways
- roadways
- boulevards
- carriageways
- arteries
- turnpikes
- ways
- drags
- arterials
- lanes
- causeways
- avenues
- rows
- pike
- thruways
- pikes
- bypasses
- high roads
- traces
- interstates
- motorways
- trails
- corridors
- parkways
- closes
- tracks
- switchbacks
- alleys
- through streets
- autoroutes
- ring roads
- superhighways
- dual carriageways
- corniches
- branches
- side streets
- crossroads
- dead ends
- autostradas
- autobahns
- secondary roads
- side roads
- high streets
- beltways
- shunpikes
- circles
- byways
- alleyways
- places
- autostrade
- bystreets
- backstreets
- Main Streets
- mews
- laneways
- cul-de-sacs
- culs-de-sac
passes
3 of 3noun (2)
1
as in tickets
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) a pass to leave the military base for the weekend Synonyms & Similar Words
- tickets
- checks
- coupons
- certificates
- tokens
- vouchers
- pasteboards
- notes
2
as in tries
an effort to do or accomplish something a final pass at the assignment Synonyms & Similar Words
- tries
- goes
- attempts
- stabs
- offers
- bids
- shots
- flings
- bashes
- whirls
- endeavors
- cracks
- trials
- whacks
- essays
- assays
- struggles
- throes
- strivings
- undertakings
- trial and errors
3
as in realizations
the state of being actual or complete eventually, all their career goals came to pass Synonyms & Similar Words
- realizations
- accomplishments
- fulfilments
- consummations
- fruitions
- fulfillments
- achievements
- successes
- actualizations
- triumphs
- attainments
- actualities
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defeats
- nought
- naughts
- fizzles
- failures
- nonsuccesses
- nonfulfillments