passingnoun
uk/ˈpɑː.sɪŋ/us/ˈpæs.ɪŋ/passing noun (CONVERSATION)
in passing
If something is said in passing, it is said while talking about something else and is not the main subject of a conversation:
When asked if he had told the police about the incident, Mr Banks said he had mentioned it in passing to a detective.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Quoting & making references
- above
- aforementioned
- allusive
- bandy sth around
- bring
- citation
- come up
- cross-reference
- direct speech
- drag
- misquote
- pursuant
- quotation
- quote
- quote... unquote idiom
- referent
- said
- touch
- touch on/upon sth
- undermentioned
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passing noun (TIME)
the passing of time/the years
the process of time passing:
My parents seem to have mellowed with the passing of the years.
[ S ] the death or end of someone or something:
Ten years after her death, the public still mourns her passing.
the passing of the old year
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Spending time & time passing
- all the time in the world idiom
- Anno Domini
- course
- elapse
- employ
- fall
- fall away
- misspend
- pass
- passage
- run
- sand
- slip away
- spread sth over sth
- the sands of time are running out idiom
- tick
- tick away/by
- time and tide wait for no man idiom
- while
- while sth away
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Ends and endings
Death and dying
passingadjective [ before noun ]
uk/ˈpɑː.sɪŋ/us/ˈpæs.ɪŋ/passing adjective [ before noun ] (GOING PAST)
moving past:
A passing motorist stopped and gave her a lift to the nearby town.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
General words for movement
- betake
- budge
- budge up
- circulate
- come
- gangway!
- go around
- head
- locomotion
- manoeuvre
- mill around
- mobility
- mope
- mope around (somewhere)
- move
- round
- slip
- steer
- sway
- travel
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passing adjective [ before noun ] (TIME)
lasting only for a short time and not important or complete:
I gave the restaurant a passing glance as I walked by, but I didn't notice who was in there.
The matter is only of passing scientific interest.
used to refer to a period of time that is going past:
The situation seems to become more hopeless with each/every passing day.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
General words for movement
- betake
- budge
- budge up
- circulate
- come
- gangway!
- go around
- head
- locomotion
- manoeuvre
- mill around
- mobility
- mope
- mope around (somewhere)
- move
- round
- slip
- steer
- sway
- travel
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Idiom(s)
a passing resemblance