\ ˈpas
\
\
passed; passing; passes
Definition of pass
(Entry 1 of 4)
2a
: to go away : depart
the fright passes almost immediately— Fred Majdalany
b
: die
—often used with on Her parents have passed on.
3a
: 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
4a
: 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
6a
: to sit in inquest (see inquest sense 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
9a
: 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
10a
: 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
12a(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
—often used with on 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
2a
: to go by : proceed or extend beyond
pass the school on their way to work
3a
: 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
4a
: 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
5a
: to let (time or a period of time) go by especially while involved in a leisure activity
I'll read to pass the time
6a
: 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
7a
: 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
8a
: to pronounce (something, such as a sentence or opinion) especially judicially
passed sentence on the convicted man
b
: utter
passed a cutting remark
9a
: 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
11a
: to give a base on balls to
passed two batters
b
: to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (such as tennis)
pass muster
pass the buck
pass the hat
pass the time of day
: to gain approval or acceptance
His cooking could pass muster in an expensive French restaurant.
: to shift a responsibility to someone else
Stop trying to pass the buck and take responsibility for what you did.
: to take up a collection for money
passed the hat for families affected by the disaster
: to exchange greetings or engage in pleasant conversation
passed the time of day with friends in the park
pass
noun (1)Definition of pass (Entry 2 of 4)
1
: a means (such as an opening, road, or channel) by which a barrier may be passed or access to a place may be gained
especially
: a low place in a mountain range
2
: a position to be held usually against odds
pass
noun (2)
plural passes
Definition of pass (Entry 3 of 4)
1
: realization
brought his dream to pass
3
: a usually distressing or bad state of affairs
what has brought you to such a pass?
4a
: a written permission to move about freely in a place or to leave or enter it
b
: a written leave of absence from a military post or station for a brief period
c
: a permit or ticket allowing free transportation or free admission
5
archaic
: a thrust or lunge in fencing
6a
: a transference of objects by sleight of hand or other deceptive means
b
: a moving of the hands over or along something
7
archaic
: an ingenious sally (as of wit)
8
: the passing of an examination or course of study
also
: the mark or certification of such passing
9
: a single complete mechanical operation
also
: a single complete cycle of operations (as for processing, manufacturing, or printing)
10a(1)
: a transfer of a ball or a puck from one player to another on the same team
(2)
: a ball or puck so transferred
b
: passing shot
11
: base on balls
12a
: an instance of letting something (such as an offer or opportunity) go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
Jackson toured the place with top designers, and execs looked over his … toy that resembled an animal. Mattel took a pass [=turned down the offer] and Jackson took the rejection well.— Pamela Lansden President Donald Trump is expected to take a pass on handing out this year's National Teacher of the Year award honors—forgoing a tradition that dates to President Harry Truman.— Kimberly Hefling
b
: an election not to bid, bet, or draw an additional card in a card game
13
: a throw of dice in the game of craps that wins the bet for the shooter — compare crap entry 3 sense 2, missout
14
: a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
16
: pase
pass
abbreviationDefinition of pass (Entry 4 of 4)
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Examples of pass in a Sentence
Verb
The boat was too tall to pass beneath the bridge.
A flock of geese were passing overhead.
They pass the library every morning on their way to school.
The ships passed each other in the night.
We passed each other in the hallway without looking up.
She passed two other runners just before the finish line.
He passed the slower cars on the highway.
The drug passes quickly into the bloodstream.
In a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
The airplane passed out of sight.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Keeping Up with 'Passed' and 'Past'
Keeping Up with 'Passed' and 'Past'
What's passed is in the past, but this article will be helpful today
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Cite this Entry
“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass. Accessed 10 Apr. 2021.
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More Definitions for pass
pass
verb
English Language Learners Definition of pass
: to move past someone or something
: to move past someone or something that is moving more slowly in the same direction
: to move or go into or through a particular place
See the full definition for pass in the English Language Learners Dictionary
pass
verb
\ ˈpas
\
\
passed; passing
Kids Definition of pass
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: move entry 1 sense 1, proceed
The airplane passed out of sight.
2
: to go away
The pain will soon pass.
3
: to go by or move past
Pass that car.
4
: to go or allow to go across, over, or through
They let me pass.
5
: to transfer or throw to another person
Please pass the salt. Pass me the football!
6
: to go successfully through an examination or inspection
7
: to cause or permit to elapse
We passed the time playing cards.
8
: happen sense 1
The day passed without any problems.
9
: to move from one place or condition to another
The business has passed to new ownership.
10
: to be or cause to be approved
The Senate passed the bill.
11
: to be or cause to be identified or recognized
She tried to pass for an expert.
12
: die entry 1 sense 1
pass
nounKids Definition of pass (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: an opening or way for going along or through
2
: a gap in a mountain range
pass
nounKids Definition of pass (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: the act or an instance of moving
The plane made two passes over the area.
2
: the act or an instance of throwing or transferring (as a ball) to another person
3
: a written permit to go or come
I got some movie passes for my birthday.
4
: situation sense 1
Things have come to a strange pass.
pass
transitive verb
\ ˈpas
\
\
Medical Definition of pass
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially from the bowels : evacuate sense 2, void
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pass
intransitive verbLegal Definition of pass
1a
: to issue a decision, verdict, or opinion
the Supreme Court passed on a statute
b
: to be legally issued
judgment passed by default
2
: to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
title passes to the buyer
1
: to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)
2a
: to get the approval of
the bill passed the House
b
: to give approval or legal sanction to
the House passed the bill
3
: to transfer the right to or interest in
the sale passes the title to the goods
4
: to put in circulation
pass bad checks
— compare utter
5
: to pronounce (as a sentence or judgment) judicially
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Time Traveler for pass
The first known use of pass was in the 13th century
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