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pass

verb \ ˈpas \

Definition of pass

intransitive verb
1 : move, proceed, go
  • The boat was too tall to pass under the bridge.
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
8 a : 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
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
11 a obsolete : to make a pass (see 3pass 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
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
—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
2 a : 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)
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
b : to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard
  • his commander quietly passed his likes or dislikes
  • —George Meredith
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

See pass defined for English-language learners

See pass defined for kids

Examples of pass in a Sentence

  1. The boat was too tall to pass beneath the bridge.

  2. A flock of geese were passing overhead.

  3. They pass the library every morning on their way to school.

  4. The ships passed each other in the night.

  5. We passed each other in the hallway without looking up.

  6. She passed two other runners just before the finish line.

  7. He passed the slower cars on the highway.

  8. The drug passes quickly into the bloodstream.

  9. In a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.

  10. The airplane passed out of sight.

Origin and Etymology of pass

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

pass Synonyms

Synonyms

balk (at), decline, disapprove, negative, nix, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down;

Antonyms

accept, agree (to), approve;

Near Antonyms

condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate;

adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome;

accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent;

choose, handpick, select;

espouse, support;

Related Words

blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down;

overrule, veto;

forbid, prohibit, proscribe;

dismiss, ignore;

abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from);

deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay;

stick;

abjure, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw;

avoid, bypass, detour;

contradict, deny, disown, negate;

controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute;

back down, back off, backtrack;

disallow, recall, renege, revoke;

Phrases

turn one's back on;

2

pass

noun

Definition of pass

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

Origin and Etymology of pass

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

3

pass

noun

Definition of pass

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?
4 a : 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
6 a : 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)
10 a (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
12 : 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 3crap 2, missout
14 : a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
15 a : effort, try
b : a sexually inviting gesture or approach
16 : pase

Origin and Etymology of pass

1pass

4

pass

abbreviation

Definition of pass

passenger

PASS Defined for English Language Learners

pass

verb

Definition of pass for English Language Learners

  • : 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

PASS Defined for Kids

1

pass

verb \ ˈpas \

Definition of pass for Students

passed; passing
1 : 1move 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 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 : 1die 1
—

passer

noun
— pass away
: 1die 1
— pass out
: to become unconscious : faint
— pass up
: to let go by : refuse
  • It was an offer too good to pass up.
2

pass

noun

Definition of pass for Students

1 : an opening or way for going along or through
2 : a gap in a mountain range
3

pass

noun

Definition of pass for Students

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 1
  • Things have come to a strange pass.

Medical Dictionary

pass

transitive verb \ ˈpas \

medical Definition of pass

: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially from the bowels : evacuate 2, void

Law Dictionary

pass

intransitive verb

legal Definition of pass

1 a : 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)
2 a : 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

Learn More about pass

  1. See words that rhyme with pass Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pass Spanish Central: Translation of pass Nglish: Translation of pass for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pass for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pass

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