passing

[ pas-ing, pah-sing ]

/ ˈpæs ɪŋ, ˈpɑ sɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR passing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

going by or past; elapsing: He was feeling better with each passing day.

brief, fleeting, or fortuitous; transitory: to take a passing fancy to something.

done, given, etc., in passing; cursory: a passing mention.

surpassing, preeminent, or extreme.

indicating satisfactory performance in a course, on a paper, in a test, etc.: a passing grade on a test.

adverb

surpassingly; exceedingly; very.

noun

the act of a person or thing that passes or causes something to pass.

a means or place of passage.

Idioms for passing

in passing, by the way; incidentally: The speaker mentioned his latest book in passing.

Origin of passing

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at pass, -ing², -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM passing

pass·ing·ly, adverb pass·ing·ness, noun un·pass·ing, adjective

Words nearby passing

passeriform, passerine, passible, passifloraceous, passim, passing, passing bell, passing lane, passing note, passing shot, passion

Definition for passing (2 of 2)

pass

[ pas, pahs ]

/ pæs, pɑs /

verb (used with object)

to move past; go by: to pass another car on the road.

to let go without notice, action, remark, etc.; leave unconsidered; disregard; overlook: Pass chapter two and go on to chapter three.

to omit the usual or regular payment of: The company decided to pass its dividend in the third quarter of the year.

to cause or allow to go through or beyond a gate, barrier, etc.: The guard checked the identification papers and then passed the visitor.

to go across or over (a stream, threshold, etc.); cross.

to endure or undergo: They passed the worst night of their lives.

to undergo or complete successfully: to pass an examination.

to cause or permit to complete successfully (an investigation, examination, course of study, etc.): I am passing the whole class this term.

to go beyond (a point, degree, stage, etc.); transcend; exceed; surpass.

to cause to go or extend farther: to pass a rope through a hole.

to cause to go, move, or march by: to pass troops in review.

to allot to oneself (a portion of time); spend: He decided to pass a year abroad.

to live through, utilize, or fill; occupy oneself during: How to pass the time?

to cause to circulate or spread; disseminate: to pass rumors.

to cause to be accepted or received: to pass a worthless check.

to convey, transfer, or transmit; deliver (often followed by on): Pass this memo on after reading it.

to convey from one person, hand, etc., to another: Please pass the salt.

to pledge: to pass one's word of honor to remain loyal.

to utter, pronounce, or speak: She passed a remark about every passerby.

to cause to go through something, as a process or agency: to pass returning travelers through customs.

to discharge or void from the body, as excrement or a kidney stone.

to sanction or approve, especially by vote: Congress passed the bill.

to obtain the approval or sanction of (a legislative body, committee, etc.), especially by a vote: The bill passed Congress on the second vote.

to express or pronounce, as an opinion: to pass judgment without knowing the facts.

Law. to place legal title or interest in (another) by a conveyance, a will, or other transfer.

(in feats of magic) to perform a pass on.

Tennis. to make a passing shot against (an opponent).

Sports. to transfer (the ball or puck) to a teammate.

Bullfighting. (of a bullfighter) to provoke and guide the charge of (a bull) with the capa or especially the muleta.

verb (used without object)

to go or move onward; proceed.

to come to or toward, then go beyond: to pass by a shop; to pass through town.

to go away; depart: The dizzy feeling will pass in a minute.

to elapse or slip by; be spent: The day passed very quickly for him.

to come to an end: The crisis soon passed.

to die.

to take place; happen; occur: What passed while I was on vacation?

to go by or move past: The funeral procession passed slowly.

to go about or circulate; be current.

to serve as a marginally acceptable substitute: The facsimile isn't very good but it will pass.

to live or be known as a member of a racial, religious, or ethnic group other than one's own, especially to live and be known as a white person although of black ancestry.

to be transferred or conveyed: The crown passed to the king's nephew.

to be interchanged, as between two persons: Sharp words passed between them.

to undergo transition or conversion: to pass from a solid to a liquid state.

to go or get through a barrier, test, course of study, etc., successfully: Of the twenty who took the exam, only twelve passed.

to go unheeded, unchallenged, or unremarked on: He decided to let the insult pass.

to express or pronounce an opinion, judgment, verdict, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): Will you pass on the authenticity of this drawing?

to be voided, as excrement or a kidney stone.

to obtain the vote of approval or sanction of a legislative body, official committee, or the like: The new tax bill finally passed.

Law.

(of a member of an inquest or other deliberative body) to sit (usually followed by on or upon): to pass on a case of manslaughter.
to adjudicate.
to vest title or other legal interest in real or personal property in a new owner.

to throw a ball from one person to another, as in a game of catch.

Sports. to make a pass, as in football or ice hockey.

Cards.

to forgo one's opportunity to bid, play, etc.
to throw in one's hand.

Fencing Obsolete. to thrust or lunge.

noun

an act of passing.

a narrow route across a relatively low notch or depression in a mountain barrier.

a road, channel, or other way providing a means of passage, as through an obstructed region or other barrier.

a navigable channel, as at the mouth or in the delta of a river.

a permission or license to pass, go, come, or enter.

Military.

a military document granting the right to cross lines or to enter or leave a military or naval base or building.
written authority given a soldier to leave a station or duty for a specified period of time.

a free ticket or permit: two passes to a concert; a railroad pass.

South African. reference book(def 2).

Chiefly British. the act of passing a university or school examination or course without honors or distinction.

Sports. the transfer of a ball or puck from one teammate to another.

Baseball. base on balls.

Fencing. a thrust or lunge.

a single movement, effort, maneuver, etc.: He made a pass at the control tower of the enemy airfield.

Informal.

a gesture, action, or remark that is intended to be sexually inviting; amorous overture.
a jab or poke with the arm, especially one that misses its mark.

Cards. the act or statement of not bidding or raising another bid: There have been two passes and now it's your bid.

(in feats of magic)

a passing of the hand over, along, or before anything.
the transference or changing of objects by or as by sleight of hand; a manipulation, as of a juggler.

a particular stage or state of affairs: The economic situation had come to a dreadful pass.

Bullfighting. a pase.

one passage of a tool over work or one passage of work through a machine.

Archaic. a witty remark or thrust.

Mining. an opening for delivering coal or ore to a lower level underground.

Verb Phrases

pass along/through, to add (incurred extra costs or expenses) to the amount charged a client or customer: Airlines were passing along the sudden increase in fuel prices.

pass away,

to cease; end: All this trouble will pass away.
to die: He passed away during the night.

pass for/as, to be accepted as; be considered: material that passed for silk; The candidate could pass as Latino or Anglo, appealing to both constituencies.

pass off,

to present or offer (something) under false pretenses; dispose of deceptively: to pass off a spurious de Kooning on a gullible buyer.
to cause to be accepted or received under a false identity: He passed himself off as a doctor.
to cease gradually; end: The headache passed off in the late afternoon.
to disregard or ignore.
to continue to completion; occur: The meeting passed off without incident.

pass on, to die: The patient passed on after a long illness.

pass over,

to disregard; ignore: Just pass over the first part of his letter.
to fail to take notice of, consider, or choose: He was passed over for the promotion.

pass up, to refuse or neglect to take advantage of; reject: The opportunity may not come again, so don't pass it up.

Origin of pass

1175–1225; (v.) Middle English passen < Old French passer < Vulgar Latin *passāre, derivative of Latin passus step, pace¹; (noun) Middle English; in part < Middle French passe (noun derivative of passer), in part noun derivative of passen

SYNONYMS FOR pass

2 ignore.

9 excel.

22 enact.

32 leave.

34 expire, cease, terminate, vanish, fade, disappear.

55 saddle, col.

70 juncture, situation, condition.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pass ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for pass

35, 76b, 79. See die¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM pass

pass·less, adjective out·pass, verb (used with object) sub·pass, noun

Example sentences from the Web for passing

A passing off-duty school safety officer named Fred Lucas said that he had been told the man was a drug dealer.

Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown |Michael Daly |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
The big slug happened to hit the suspect in the street, passing through his arm and then striking Police Officer Andrew Dossi.

Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown |Michael Daly |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
While Drake is redefining realness, Iggy is effectively “passing.”

The Cultural Crimes of Iggy Azalea |Amy Zimmerman |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Lawmaking by legislatures is also a one-way ratchet—Legislators get credit for passing laws, not pruning them.

Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans |Philip K. Howard |December 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

It was a Republican Congress working with a Democratic president that succeeded in passing the welfare reform bill the first time.

To GOP Congress, as Usual, It’s Welfare on the Chopping Block |Monica Potts |December 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Soon after passing beneath the lamp mademoiselle vanished into a doorway.

The Albert Gate Mystery |Louis Tracy
Passing through the silent village they reached a long building which Gomez said was the Romanez hacienda.

The Coast of Adventure |Harold Bindloss
Great numbers of people are passing to and fro, an excess of the feminine element being generally observable.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 121, November, 1867 |Various
A girl who was passing the house called out to me in a very disagreeable voice.

Girls New and Old |L. T. Meade
A few days before, Si, while passing near the hospital, saw a weak convalescent faint and fall.

Si Klegg, Book 6 (of 6) |John McElroy

British Dictionary definitions for passing (1 of 2)

passing

/ (ˈpɑːsɪŋ) /

adjective

transitory or momentary a passing fancy

cursory or casual in action or manner a passing reference

adverb, adjective

archaic to an extreme degree the events were passing strange

noun

a place where or means by which one may pass, cross, ford, etc

a euphemism for death

in passing by the way; incidentally he mentioned your visit in passing

British Dictionary definitions for passing (2 of 2)

pass

/ (pɑːs) /

verb

to go onwards or move by or past (a person, thing, etc)

to run, extend, or lead through, over, or across (a place) the route passes through the city

to go through or cause to go through (an obstacle or barrier) to pass a needle through cloth

to move or cause to move onwards or over he passed his hand over her face

(tr) to go beyond or exceed this victory passes all expectation

to gain or cause to gain an adequate or required mark, grade, or rating in (an examination, course, etc) the examiner passed them all

(often foll by away or by) to elapse or allow to elapse we passed the time talking

pass the time of day with someone to spend time amicably with someone, esp in chatting, with no particular purpose

(intr) to take place or happen what passed at the meeting?

to speak or exchange or be spoken or exchanged angry words passed between them

to spread or cause to spread we passed the news round the class

to transfer or exchange or be transferred or exchanged the bomb passed from hand to hand

(intr) to undergo change or transition to pass from joy to despair

(when tr, often foll by down) to transfer or be transferred by inheritance the house passed to the younger son

to agree to or sanction or to be agreed to or receive the sanction of a legislative body, person of authority, etc the assembly passed 10 resolutions

(tr) (of a legislative measure) to undergo (a procedural stage) and be agreed the bill passed the committee stage

(when tr, often foll by on or upon) to pronounce or deliver (judgment, findings, etc) the court passed sentence

to go or allow to go without comment or censure the intended insult passed unnoticed

(intr) to opt not to exercise a right, as by not answering a question or not making a bid or a play in card games

physiol to discharge (urine, faeces, etc) from the body

pass water to urinate

(intr) to come to an end or disappear his anger soon passed

(intr; usually foll by for or as) to be likely to be mistaken for or accepted as (someone or something else) you could easily pass for your sister

(intr; foll by away, on, or over) a euphemism for die 1 (def. 1)

(tr) mainly US to fail to declare (a dividend)

(intr; usually foll by on or upon) mainly US (of a court, jury, etc) to sit in judgment; adjudicate

sport to hit, kick, or throw (the ball) to another player

bring to pass archaic to cause to happen

come to pass to happen

noun

the act of passing

a route through a range of mountains where the summit is lower or where there is a gap between peaks
(capital as part of a name)the Simplon Pass

a way through any difficult region

a permit, licence, or authorization to do something without restriction she has a pass to visit the museum on Sundays

a document allowing entry to and exit from a military installation
a document authorizing leave of absence

British

the passing of a college or university examination to a satisfactory standard but not as high as honours
(as modifier)a pass degree Compare honours (def. 2)

a dive, sweep, or bombing or landing run by an aircraft

a motion of the hand or of a wand as a prelude to or part of a conjuring trick

informal an attempt, in words or action, to invite sexual intimacy (esp in the phrase make a pass at)

a state of affairs or condition, esp a bad or difficult one (esp in the phrase a pretty pass)

sport the transfer of a ball from one player to another

fencing a thrust or lunge with a sword

bridge the act of passing (making no bid)

bullfighting a variant of pase

archaic a witty sally or remark

interjection

bridge a call indicating that a player has no bid to make

See also pass by, pass off, pass out, pass over, pass up

Word Origin for pass

C13: from Old French passer to pass, surpass, from Latin passūs step, pace 1

Medical definitions for passing

pass

[ păs ]

v.

To go across; go through.

To cause to move into a certain position.

To cease to exist; die.

To be voided from the body.

Idioms and Phrases with passing

pass

In addition to the idioms beginning with pass

pass away
pass by
pass for
pass muster
pass off
pass on
pass one's lips
pass out
pass over
pass the buck
pass the hat
pass the time
pass the torch
pass through one's mind
pass up
pass with flying colors

also see:

bring about (to pass)
come about (to pass)
cross (pass through) one's mind
head someone off (at the pass)
in passing
make (take) a pass at
ships that pass in the night

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

passing

adjective

adverb

noun

Idioms for passing

Origin of passing

OTHER WORDS FROM passing

Words nearby passing

Definition for passing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of pass

SYNONYMS FOR pass

synonym study for pass

OTHER WORDS FROM pass

Example sentences from the Web for passing

British Dictionary definitions for passing (1 of 2)

adjective

adverb, adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for passing (2 of 2)

verb

noun

interjection

Word Origin for pass

Medical definitions for passing

v.

Idioms and Phrases with passing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

passing

adjective

adverb

noun

Idioms for passing

Origin of passing

OTHER WORDS FROM passing

Words nearby passing

Definition for passing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of pass

SYNONYMS FOR pass

synonym study for pass

OTHER WORDS FROM pass

Words related to passing

Example sentences from the Web for passing

British Dictionary definitions for passing (1 of 2)

adjective

adverb, adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for passing (2 of 2)

verb

noun

interjection

Word Origin for pass

Medical definitions for passing

v.

Idioms and Phrases with passing