pass the time
idiom
: to let time or a period of time go by especially while doing something enjoyable
We played games to pass the time on the bus.
Examples of pass the time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reading, for me, was a huge escape, and given the rather draconian rules around TV in our house, a fantastic way to pass the time.
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Literary Hub
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Bring a book or a friend to pass the time, and pack water and sunscreen, as summer days can be warm (average 80°F).
—Emma Caldwell, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Lopez also stars as Ingrid Luna, the luminous star of Molina’s favorite movie—a story represented as a film within the film, recounted to Valentin to pass the time.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
So please, try to see every day as a license to LIVE, not just pass the time.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pass the time
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Literary Hub
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Bring a book or a friend to pass the time, and pack water and sunscreen, as summer days can be warm (average 80°F).
—Emma Caldwell, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Lopez also stars as Ingrid Luna, the luminous star of Molina’s favorite movie—a story represented as a film within the film, recounted to Valentin to pass the time.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
So please, try to see every day as a license to LIVE, not just pass the time.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pass the time
Cite this Entry
“Pass the time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20the%20time. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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