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definitions

passing

[pas-ing, pah-sing]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR passing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

    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
Related formspass·ing·ly, adverbpass·ing·ness, nounun·pass·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for in passing

casually, remotely, momentarily, temporarily, quickly, accidentally, unexpectedly, obiter, parenthetically, hastily, fleetingly, transiently, aside, incidentally
British Dictionary definitions for in passing

passing

adjective

transitory or momentarya passing fancy
cursory or casual in action or mannera passing reference

adverb, adjective

archaic to an extreme degreethe 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; incidentallyhe mentioned your visit in passing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for in passing

passing

adv.

"in a (sur)passing degree, surpassingly," late 14c., from pass (v.).

passing

n.

"death," 1869, verbal noun from pass (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with in passing

in passing

Incidentally, by the way, as in “It may be remarked in passing” (Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, 1849). [Mid-1800s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.