as in flash
lasting only for a short time
his parents were willing to buy him a piano if he demonstrated that his interest in music was more than a passing fancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities
the precise moment of his passing was recorded by the machines at his bedside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
a passing strange turn of events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stopping
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaving
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in enacting
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in happening
to take place
and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
a presidential candidate who doesn't yet know how it feels to pass the scrutiny of the national press
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in uttering
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
he'll occasionally pass some insightful comment, but in general he doesn't have much to contribute
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in refusing
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
we appreciate the invitation to the party, but we'll have to pass I'll pass on the coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in flying
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of passing
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Thursday, with the passing front, also brings a higher chance of thunderstoms.
—Rachael Jay, CBS News, 2 May 2026
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Tuesday night will be the team's first home game since their passing.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
While there could be a passing sprinkle or shower today, most of the day will be rain-free, gray, and unseasonably cool.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
Pacheco declined to say, and Bourgerie’s April 21 letter includes only a passing mention of the Durango incident.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Thursday, with the passing front, also brings a higher chance of thunderstoms.
—Rachael Jay, CBS News, 2 May 2026
Noun
Published in 2018, The Third Hotel follows Clare, a recent widow who travels to Latin America weeks after her husband Richard’s mysterious death, driven by the need to understand her role in his early passing.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Tuesday night will be the team's first home game since their passing.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Verb
As a result, look for the guy(s) behind him to work into early passing down situations.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
While there could be a passing sprinkle or shower today, most of the day will be rain-free, gray, and unseasonably cool.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
The heaviest rain has shifted eastward, with the island of Molokai under a flash-flood warning on Sunday.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Kansas City will go from springlike warmth to winter fast as a powerful storm sweeps through Sunday, bringing damaging winds, a rapid temperature plunge with flash-freeze risk, and a quick burst of snow that could cut visibility, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The music publication Revolver reported in a 2023 article about Cold as Life that the hard rock band continued to perform after its frontman’s death.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Since 2018, authorities had used advanced DNA evidence to link Brashers to the strangulation death of a South Carolina woman in 1990, the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee and the shooting of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
Your co-parent is managing treatment, uncertainty and the very real fear of how this will affect his relationship with his daughter.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
The hearts and minds of Braves players were on Bobby Cox on a sunny evening at Dodger Stadium before the middle game of a three-game series against the Dodgers — a game that meant very little, considering the news of the day.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Netflix has done this before, handing the series its third season around this time last year before Season 2 arrived on the streamer in August 2025.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
-
High up on the curving walls to either side were large murals painted in the 1930s by the artist Barry Faulkner portraying Thomas Jefferson handing the Declaration to John Hancock and the ratification of the Constitution.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Higher gas prices and airfare aren't stopping 45 million Americans from traveling for Memorial Day weekend in 2026, according to AAA's new forecast.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
There’s been no stopping Garcia in his last two starts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The bill passed the Legislature but hasn't been sent to DeSantis' desk, leaving the fund in limbo still.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Common laundry habits — ignoring dryer vent buildup, leaving wet clothes in the washer, using hot water on everything and skipping the washing machine gasket — can damage appliances, ruin fabrics and even create a fire risk.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The change was prompted by the Porter County Commissioners on April 1 enacting a new standard operating procedure for its Porter County E-911 system.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The state passed a law last year preempting local governments from enacting or enforcing rules against presidential libraries.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Of course, many of the best looks of the week stemmed from the countless Met after-parties happening in New York, too.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
10 May 2026
-
There’s a divisive court battle happening in Bergen County over its 1700s-era blue laws, which limit sales on clothes, home decor and more.—
Tim Craig,
Washington Post,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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