Definition of pass
2 a
: to go away : depart
- the fright passes almost immediately
- —Fred Majdalany
b
: die
—often used with on
- Her parents have passed on.
3 a
: to move in a path so as to approach and continue beyond something : move past;
especially
: to move past another vehicle going in the same direction
- glowered at the other driver as we passed
b
: to run the normal course
—used of time or a period of time
- the hours pass quickly
4 a
: to go or make one's way through
- allow no one to pass
b
: to go uncensured, unchallenged, or seemingly unnoticed
- let the remark pass
5
: to go from one quality, state, or form to another
- passes from a liquid to a gaseous state
6 a
: to sit in inquest (see inquest 1) or judgment
b (1)
: to render a decision, verdict, or opinion
- the court passed on the legality of wiretapping
(2)
: to become legally rendered
- judgment passed for the plaintiff
7
: to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
- the throne passed to the king's son
- title passes to the buyer upon payment in full
b
: to take place or be exchanged as or in a social, personal, or business interaction
- words passed
9 a
: to become approved by a legislature or body empowered to sanction or reject
- the proposal passed
b
: to undergo an inspection, test, or course of study successfully
- took the examination and passed
10 a
: to serve as a medium of exchange
b
: to be accepted or regarded
- drivel that passes for literature
c
: to identify oneself or be identified as something one is not
- tried to pass as an adult
- Mom could pass as my sister
b
: to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate
—often used with off
- took the ball and quickly passed off to a teammate
12 a (1)
: to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game
- Her bridge partner passed.
(2)
: to withdraw from the current poker pot
b
: to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
- thanks for the offer, but I'll pass
- passed on the cheesecake
1
: to go beyond: such as
b
: to advance or develop beyond
c
: to go past (one moving in the same direction)
- passed a slower moving car
2 a
: to go by : proceed or extend beyond
- pass the school on their way to work
3 a
: to go across, over, or through : cross
b
: to live through (something, such as an experience or peril) : undergo
c
: to go through (something, such as a test) successfully
- passed the final exams of his courses
4 a
: to secure the approval of
- the bill passed the Senate
b
: to cause or permit to win approval or legal or official sanction
- pass a law
c
: to give approval or a passing grade to
- pass the students
5 a
: to let (time or a period of time) go by especially while involved in a leisure activity
- I'll read to pass the time
6 a
: pledge
- had passed his word that he would repay the debt
b
: to transfer the right to or property in
- pass title to a house
7 a
: to put in circulation
- pass bad checks
b (1)
: to transfer or transmit from one to another
- pass the salt
- passing the savings on to customers
(2)
: to relay or communicate (something, such as information) to another
c
: to cause or enable to go : transport
- waited till the soldiers and wounded were all passed over
- —Walt Whitman
d
: to throw or hit (a ball or puck) especially to a teammate
—often used with off
- passed the ball off to his teammate
8 a
: to pronounce (something, such as a sentence or opinion) especially judicially
- passed sentence on the convicted man
b
: utter
- passed a cutting remark
9 a
: to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier
- passed the detectives to view the crime scene
b
: to move or cause to move in a particular manner or direction
- passed my hand over my face
- pass the rope through the loop
c
: to cause to march or go by in order
- pass the troops in review
10
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially the bowels
11 a
: to give a base on balls to
- passed two batters
b
: to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (such as tennis)
—
passer
noun
—
pass muster
: to gain approval or acceptance
- His cooking could pass muster in an expensive French restaurant.
—
pass the buck
: to shift a responsibility to someone else
- Stop trying to pass the buck and take responsibility for what you did.
—
pass the hat
: to take up a collection for money
- passed the hat for families affected by the disaster
—
pass the time of day
: to exchange greetings or engage in pleasant conversation
- passed the time of day with friends in the park
