pass
verb (used with object)
to move past; go by.
pass
1 American
[pas]
/ pæs /
verb (used with object)
passes,
present (3rd person singular)
passed,
past participle, past
passing
present participle
-
to move past; go by.
Make sure to use your turn signal when you 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.
- Synonyms:
- ignore
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- excel
-
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 byon ).
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.
- Synonyms:
- enact
-
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)
passes,
present (3rd person singular)
passed,
past participle, past
passing
present participle
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- leave
-
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.
-
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.
James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man is about the life of a Black man who passes as white.
-
-
to be perceived as a gender other than the one assigned at birth, especially as a cisgender member of one's self-identified gender.
I'm not really comfortable using the women's restroom unless I'm certain I pass.
-
to be perceived as a particular gender.
I'm still at the stage of being excited when I pass as male.
-
-
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 orupon ).
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 orupon ).
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
passes
plural
-
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.
-
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.
-
Informal. a jab or poke with the arm, especially one that misses its mark.
-
one passage of a tool over work or one passage of work through a machine.
-
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.
-
Chiefly British. the act of passing a university or school examination or course without honors or distinction.
-
South African. reference book.
-
Bullfighting. a pase.
-
Archaic. a witty remark or thrust.
-
Mining. an opening for delivering coal or ore to a lower level underground.
verb phrase
-
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 up to refuse or neglect to take advantage of; reject.
The opportunity may not come again, so don't pass it up.
-
pass away
-
to die.
He passed away during the night.
-
to cease; end.
All this trouble will pass away.
-
-
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 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 on to die.
The patient passed on after a long illness.
idioms
-
pass muster. muster.
-
bring to pass, to cause to happen; bring about.
His wife's death brought to pass a change in his attitude toward religion.
-
come to pass, to occur; happen.
Strange things came to pass.
-
pass out,
-
to lose consciousness; faint.
-
to die; pass away.
-
to distribute, especially individually by hand.
to pass out discount coupons on a street corner.
-
to walk or march out or through; leave or exit by means of.
The graduates will pass out the center aisle after receiving their diplomas. Pass out this door and turn left.
-
to be exempted or promoted from.
Jerry passed out of freshman composition on the basis of his entering essay.
-
Pass
2
American
[pas]
/ pæs /
noun
pass.
3
American
abbreviation
-
passenger.
-
passim.
-
passive.
pass
1
British
/ 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
-
to elapse or allow to elapse
we passed the time talking
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
(tr) to fail to declare (a dividend)
-
(intr; usually foll by on or upon) (of a court, jury, etc) to sit in judgment; adjudicate
-
sport to hit, kick, or throw (the ball) to another player
-
archaic to cause to happen
-
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
-
-
-
the passing of a college or university examination to a satisfactory standard but not as high as honours
-
( as modifier ) Compare honours
a pass degree
-
-
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
pass.
2
British
abbreviation
pass
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
See die 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
passsimple
-
passessimple
-
have passedperfect
-
has passedperfect
-
am passingprogressive
-
are passingprogressive
-
is passingprogressive
-
have been passingperfect progressive
-
has been passingperfect progressive
Past
-
passedsimple
-
had passedperfect
-
was passingprogressive
-
were passingprogressive
-
had been passingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pass
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb passen, from Old French passer, from unattested Vulgar Latin passāre, derivative of Latin passus “step, pace”; noun derivative of verb; see origin at pace 1;
Explanation
A document that lets you go somewhere or do something is a pass. You can have a backstage pass at a concert, a three-day pass from a military base, or a hall pass for using the restroom during class. If you hand something to someone, you can use the verb pass, like when your dad asks you to pass the mashed potatoes. If the hand off is more of a throw or toss, then you are probably referring to a sports pass. You can't complain that no one will pass you the ball if you always stay on the opposite end of the court from where the action is.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"When you're not able to do that, it can pass you by completely."
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Budget reconciliation is the process by which lawmakers can pass spending and tax legislation with a simple Senate majority.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
House Republican leaders want to pass the framework next week before lawmakers leave Washington for a long summer break, leaving only a narrow window to complete the package before November.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Sure, it might be annoying that studios are trying to pass off overly enthusiastic five-star Letterboxd reviews as legitimate film criticism in marketing on posters and in trailers.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
I do pretty well in my academic classes, but I only hold on to the info long enough to pass the test and get a good grade.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Even so, sonic adventurers, beginning with Leopold Stokowski in the 1930s, experimented with amplification in an obsessive, seemingly quixotic effort to locate a mythical sonic grail on the Cahuenga Pass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Or it could be that Xbox couldn’t get enough buy-in to its streaming service, Xbox Game Pass.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
Firefighters have been tackling the blaze on Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass in Conwy county since Sunday morning.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Microsoft bought game production companies including Activision Blizzard to beef up the offerings on Game Pass, its Netflix-style subscription service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
When he paused before the fare gate to remove his Fast Pass from his wallet, a voice from behind spoke his name.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
“The most dire predictions didn’t come to pass. The market remains fairly robust,” said Meredith Freed, senior policy manager with KFF’s program on Medicare policy.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 20, 2026
“But moments pass. I don’t want that. I want to incorporate beans into the way we eat.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
“This too shall pass. So I will continue doing this work on behalf of the American people”
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2025
"The quality Odegaard brings, the calmness the assuredness, the final pass. Those qualities are what set you apart and make you a great team."
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024
“It will hurt a little,” he said, “but it will pass. Be brave.”
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
Once a nominee passes vetting, appointments to the Lords are formalised by the King.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
The latest attacks came after Iranian forces struck a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of global oil passes -- early Sunday, before announcing the closure of the waterway.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
“As time passes, investors will need to value the stock based on its multitude of businesses instead of the initial IPO hype,” Mike Dickson, head of research at Horizon Investments, said in emailed comments.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Observing the Poisson spot provided convincing evidence that light undergoes diffraction, meaning it bends and spreads as it passes around objects or through small openings.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
I take a sip of what passes here for coffee.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
The nationalisation came after Parliament on Wednesday passed legislation allowing the government to bring the steel industry into public ownership under circumstances where it met a public interest test.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
That time has largely passed, but he still recommends bulking up flavors with celery seed, anise and cumin, all of which naturally contain sodium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Sam Burgin also passed the exam after being instructed to retake it, but shares other people’s frustration over the lack of clear information from the DMV.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
If this had been a personal IRA instead of Social Security, and he had chosen to delay withdrawals until age 70, the remaining balance would almost certainly have passed to his heirs after his death.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
And those that were not asleep were sitting there on straw-filled sacks looking up at me blankly as I passed by.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Back in Avenal that afternoon, they filed into the elementary-school cafeteria, passing a children’s ‘Voice-Level Chart’ on the wall before taking their seats for the rival council meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Jules Kounde: Struggled at times with his passing.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Last November, when England faced off with Serbia for the World Cup qualifying games, the stadium held a moment of silence for Dan Tana’s passing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Researchers also accounted for the Doppler effect, the same phenomenon that changes the pitch of a passing ambulance siren.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Through his dad’s passing and my dad’s decision to move to Arizona for work.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
