pass

verb

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\ ˈpas

passed; passing; passes

Definition of pass

(Entry 1 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : move, proceed, go The boat was too tall to pass under the bridge.

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

8a : happen, occur commenting freely on the transactions as they pass— W. L. Sperry

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

11a obsolete : to make a pass (see pass entry 3 sense 5) in fencing

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

transitive verb

1 : to go beyond: such as

a : surpass, exceed passes all expectations

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

b(1) obsolete : neglect, omit

(2) : to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)

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

b : to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard his commander quietly passed his likes or dislikes— George Meredith

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

: 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

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

2 : the act or an instance of passing : passage

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

15a : effort, try

b : a sexually inviting gesture or approach

16 : pase

pass

abbreviation

Definition of pass (Entry 4 of 4)

passenger

Other Words from pass Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing pass Learn More About pass

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. See More

First Known Use of pass

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for pass

Verb and Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French passer, from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus step — more at pace

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French pas, from Latin passus

Learn More About pass

Dictionary Entries Near pass

pasquinade

pass

passable

Statistics for pass

Cite this Entry

“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for pass

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 away

: die entry 1 sense 1

pass out

: to become unconscious : faint

pass up

: to let go by : refuse It was an offer too good to pass up.

pass

noun

Kids 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

noun

Kids 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

pass

intransitive verb

Legal 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

transitive verb

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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pass

Definition of pass

Other Words from pass

Synonyms for pass

Examples of pass in a Sentence

First Known Use of pass

History and Etymology for pass

Learn More About pass

Dictionary Entries Near pass

Statistics for pass

Kids Definition of pass

Medical Definition of pass

Legal Definition of pass

WORD OF THE DAY

immutable

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pass

Definition of pass

Other Words from pass

Synonyms for pass

Examples of pass in a Sentence

Phrases Containing pass

First Known Use of pass

History and Etymology for pass

Learn More About pass

The first known use of pass was in the 13th century

Keeping Up with 'Passed' and 'Past'

Dictionary Entries Near pass

Statistics for pass

Kids Definition of pass

Medical Definition of pass

Legal Definition of pass

WORD OF THE DAY

immutable

Test Your Vocabulary