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Synonyms

pass out

British  

verb

  1. informal (intr) to become unconscious; faint

  2. (intr) (esp of an officer cadet) to qualify for a military commission; complete a course of training satisfactorily

    General Smith passed out from Sandhurst in 1933

  3. (tr) to distribute

"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

pass out Idioms  
  1. Distribute, as in He passed out the papers . [Early 1900s]

  2. Also, pass out cold . Faint, as in When she heard the news she passed out cold . [Early 1900s] Also see out cold .


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:

Before the knockout round, the brand dispatched teams of local ranchbassadors to multiple stadiums with one goal: pass out samples to every fan in sight.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 17, 2026

Maybe, just maybe I would have been able to pass out on the soft.

From BBC Jun. 30, 2026

While waiting on a bench at the police station, officers said Diarra was seen to pass out and paramedics were called who tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead.

From Barron's Jan. 25, 2026

The legislation failed to collect the votes needed to pass out of committee.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 13, 2026

I led Cade down a hallway behind the living room, assuming we’d find someplace where a boy could pass out and not be noticed.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

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