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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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of passing
Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The veteran has seen his role in the passing game dwindle significantly over his NFL career.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2025
Drake Maye just became the first player under the age of 24, and fourth player in NFL history, with 200-plus passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The passing offense has gotten worse since Marchiol’s injury, and Wilkins was listed as questionable on the player availability report.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
Love also joined Rodgers and Favre (twice) as the sole Green Bay quarterbacks with 350-plus passing yards, no interceptions and no sacks in a single game.
—Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The veteran has seen his role in the passing game dwindle significantly over his NFL career.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
There’s more force and power in his passing.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2025
Drake Maye just became the first player under the age of 24, and fourth player in NFL history, with 200-plus passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Inventiveness, cruelty, the playful distortion and extension of passing time had just gone too far.
—Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The passing offense has gotten worse since Marchiol’s injury, and Wilkins was listed as questionable on the player availability report.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Little Rock man who, police say, crashed while fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper last week now faces first-degree murder counts in the death of two teenage passengers, authorities said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In short, at the heart within the kernel of concern for memory is a concern for death.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
And then, in the very last draft, my editor asked me to clarify for her how the science worked.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Krasinski also has the least interesting yet very successful Hollywood career imaginable, but that doesn’t mean he should be exiled or worse.—
Choire Sicha,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Case for Hiring a Pro Hiring a pet transporter means handing the leash—temporarily—to someone trained for the job.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
How to Watch Suns vs Warriors Phoenix went supernova from the floor on Sunday night in handing the visiting San Antonio Spurs their first loss with a 130-118 decision.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Now, a passenger aircraft that can complete make the journey without stopping is in the final stages of construction, Qantas announced on Friday, releasing first images of the plane as it is assembled.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For years, younger generations have flocked to big cities for better job opportunities, leaving a dwindling elderly population in rural villages.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Six Central and North American teams scratched, leaving Cuba to qualify.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Among them was an amicus curiae signed by 200 Members of Congress urging the court to uphold the findings of the lower courts—namely, that the president overstepped his executive authority in enacting the tariffs using IEEPA.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Some of the companies enacting job cuts are simply looking to rein in spending — including firms at the core of the AI boom.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gossip blogs on the Housewives have become an entire cottage industry, and that’s a far more likely explanation as to why this tends to keep happening.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
What happened to us at this company is happening at another company in another sector.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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