Definition Synonyms
Definition of passing - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
temporarylasting a very short time
- It was just a passing storm.
2.
mentionbrief and made while discussing something else
- She made a passing comment about the weather.
3.
satisfactoryallowing you to pass satisfactorily
- He received a passing grade on the exam.
Noun
1.
movementthe act of moving past something
- The passing of the car was swift.
2.
sportsTECH. play in sports involving a ballTECH.
- The passing in the game was impressive.
3.
approvalthe act of approving a bill or law
- The passing of the bill was unanimous.
4.
educationsuccess in an examination or test
- She celebrated her passing with friends.
5.
writingbrief mention or reference
- He made a passing reference to the event.
6.
lifedeath or end of life
- The passing of the old king brought sadness to the kingdom..
7.
identitythe ability to be accepted as a different identity
- Her passing allowed her to blend in easily.
8.
momentarybrief or fleeting moment
- In the passing of an eye, the scene had changed..
Adverb
intensityDated UK to an extraordinary degreeDated UK
- She was passing fond of the old house.
Expressions with passing
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
mentioning something briefly while doing something else
She mentioned the news in passing during our chat.
act of shifting responsibility to someone else
The manager's buck passing frustrated the entire team.
transfer of responsibility or leadership to another person
The baton passing marked the new CEO's first day.
short-lived enthusiasm or desire
Her interest in knitting was merely a passing fancy.
stay in a place briefly without settling
I'm only passing through this town for the night.
moving through a place without stopping
We are just passing through the city on our way home.
touched upon without deep exploration
The issue was discussed in passing in the report.
person or thing briefly encountered with little connection
We were just ships passing in the night.
act of handing over a baton in a relay race
The passing of the baton was smooth during the race.
brief meeting with no lasting connection or interaction
They were like ships passing in the night, never to meet again.
express that an old system or way is ending or changing
The old order is passing as new ideas take hold.
minimum score required to pass an exam or course
She was relieved to receive a passing grade on her final exam..
continuous movement of time from past to future
The passing of time heals all wounds.
minimum result needed to succeed in a test or evaluation
The passing score on the math exam was 70 percent.
brief reference without detailed discussion
His achievements were just a mention in passing during the speech.
temporary curiosity or concern about something
He had a passing interest in photography.
lane on a highway for overtaking slower vehicles
Use the passing lane to overtake slower cars.
mention something casually while discussing another topic
He recommended in passing a book he had read recently.
increasing or changing as each day goes by
With every passing day, the flowers grew taller.
increasing or changing as time goes by
With every passing moment, her excitement grew.
increasing or changing as each year goes by
With every passing year, the city grows larger.
strategy in sports involving frequent throwing of the ball
The team's passing game was crucial for their victory.
brought up casually in conversation
She referenced in passing her trip to Paris.
day when someone dies
Her date of passing was recorded in the family Bible.
Origin of passing
Old English, pass (move past) + -ing (action)
Terms with passing included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
passing by
politely asks to move past someone or interrupts briefly
time passing
after some time passes
emotion
intense and usually passing infatuation
time passing
over a long period as time passes
passing years
gradually, events develop as months go on
quick time
time passing quickly
obstruct
prevent light or sound from passing through
light touch
touch lightly in passing
sports
complete a race by passing the finish line
sports
to finish a race by passing the finish line
time passing
happening or changing each year over time
time passing
pass or elapse, as of time
delivery
the act of passing something to someone
quick passing
time passes quickly
time passing
expressing surprise at how fast time has passed
time management
become unaware of time passing during an activity
paper destruction
destroy by passing through a shredding machine
cooking
the process of passing through a sieve
card reader
act of passing a card through a reader
touchscreen gesture
the act of passing a finger across a touchscreen
time passing
time seems to pass very quickly
movement
someone or something is leaving or passing by
passing moments
time moves forward
education
score on work or exam that is below the passing level
Examples of passing in a sentence
The excitement was just a passing phase. In a passing remark, he mentioned his new job. Her passing reference to the book intrigued me. The project received a passing evaluation from the committee. Her performance was just at a passing level. The passing of the train shook the platform.
We paused for the passing of the parade. His passing was crucial to the team's victory. The coach praised her for excellent passing skills. The passing of the new law took everyone by surprise. Debate preceded the passing of the legislation. His passing was a relief after months of study. Passing in all subjects was her goal. The report mentions the merger only in passing. She gave his complaint a passing nod during the meeting. His passing was mourned by many. The passing of the era was marked by a ceremony. Passing can be a survival strategy in certain communities. His passing was crucial for his acceptance in the group. The passing of time left them nostalgic. In the passing of a moment, everything changed. He was passing thrilled with the concert tickets. The child was passing eager to open the gift.
View all translations of passing
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:passager, passage, ...
- German:vorübergehend, Vorbeifahrt, ...
- Italian:passeggero, passaggio, ...
- Spanish:pasajero, paso, ...
- Portuguese:passageiro, passagem, ...
- Chinese:短暂的, 驶过, ...
- Japanese:一過性の, 通過, ...
- Arabic:عابِر, مُرور, ...
- Hebrew:חוֹלֵף, עֲקִיפָה, ...
- Russian:мимолетный, проезд, ...
- Ukrainian:минущий, проїзд, ...
- Hindi:क्षणिक, गुज़रना, ...
Definition of pass - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
transfertr. give something to someone elsetr.
- Please pass the salt to me.
2.
sportstr. move the ball to a teammatetr.
- He passed the ball to his teammate.
3.
successtr./intr. succeed in a test or examinationtr./intr.
- She managed to pass all her exams.
4.
timeintr. elapse or be spentintr.
- Three hours passed quickly.
5.
bypasstr. go by without stoppingtr.
- We decided to pass the crowded street.
6.
rejectiontr. decline an offer or opportunitytr.
- I will pass on the dessert, thank you.
7.
legislationtr. approve or enact a lawtr.
- The government will pass the new bill.
Noun
1.
accesspermit or ticket allowing entry or travel
- He showed his pass at the concert entrance..
2.
sportsmovement of the ball from one player to another
- He made a quick pass to his teammate.
3.
educationsuccess in an examination or test
- He received a pass in his math exam.
4.
geographyroute through mountains or difficult terrain
- The hikers found a pass through the mountains.
5.
romanticUS sexual advanceUS
- He made a pass at her during the party.
Adjective
1.
gradesatisfactory but not excellent
- She received a pass mark on her exam..
2.
sportsrelated to advancing the ball by throwing
- The team focused on their pass strategy during practice.
Images of pass

route through mountains or difficult terrain
Expressions with pass
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
move past something or someone
I watched the cars pass by the window..
deliver a message or item to someone
She will pass along the invitation to him.
show or share something among a group
He wanted to pass around the photo to see everyone's reactions..
die, especially in a gentle or euphemistic way
Her grandmother passed away last year..
attempt to move the ball to a teammate in sports
She managed to make a pass to her teammate, securing the goal..
transfer something to the next generation
The recipe was passed down from my grandmother.
give something you have to another person
Please read the note and pass it on.
convey information or a message to someone
Please pass on the news to your friends.
give something to someone else
She will pass on to him the message.
distribute something to a group of people
The teacher passed out the exams to the students..
move across or above
The plane will pass over the city at noon..
distribute something to each person in a group
Please pass round the snacks to everyone.
move past someone without stopping or noticing
The cyclist passed the old man by without a word.
spend time doing something while waiting or relaxing
We played cards to pass the time.
refuse to take an opportunity offered
I can't pass up this job offer.
endure until a weather storm ends
We decided to wait for the storm to pass before leaving.
undeserved forgiveness or allowance for a mistake or fault
Despite his errors, he received a free pass from criticism..
be excused from a responsibility or obligation
He got a pass on the homework assignment.
permit to leave class during school hours
She showed her hall pass to the teacher.
firm refusal or strong unwillingness to accept or do something
When offered broccoli, he gave a hard pass.
present something false as genuine
He tried to pass off the fake painting as real..
present someone or something as different, to trick others
She tried to pass off as a doctor to enter the ward.
give responsibilities or knowledge to someone else
He decided to retire and pass the torch to his daughter..
succeed in a test or exam with high marks
She studied hard and passed with flying colours.
Origin of pass
Latin, passus (step)
Examples of pass in a sentence
She passed the note to her friend during class. During the match, she passed to the forward quickly. The player passed without hesitation, surprising the opponents. He hopes to pass the driving test. They need to pass the final exam. The afternoon passed without interruption.
Months have passed since our last meeting. The train will pass the station without stopping. We watched the clouds pass overhead. I'll pass on the meeting, it's not necessary. He decided to pass on the job offer after much thought. The committee will pass the amendment next week. They need a majority to pass the proposed legislation. She forgot her pass at home. The guard checked each pass carefully. The pass was intercepted by the opposing team. She executed a perfect pass during the game. She was thrilled to get a pass in her history test. A pass in the final exam was all he needed to graduate. The narrow pass was treacherous in winter. Traders used the pass to cross the range. She rejected his pass at the bar. His unexpected pass caught her off guard. The project was given a pass rating by the reviewers. His performance was just pass, not outstanding. The coach emphasized pass drills in training. Pass accuracy is crucial for the team's success.
View all translations of pass
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:passer, pass, ...
- German:reichen, Eintrittskarte, ...
- Italian:passare, permesso, ...
- Spanish:pasar, permiso, ...
- Portuguese:passar, credencial, ...
- Chinese:递, 通行证, ...
- Japanese:渡す, 入場券, ...
- Arabic:ناولَ, تَصْرِيح, ...
- Hebrew:לְהַעֲבִיר, אִישׁוּר כְּנִיסָה, ...
- Russian:передавать, пропуск, ...
- Ukrainian:передати, перепустка, ...
- Hindi:देना, प्रवेश पास, ...
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