pass (something) down

phrase

: to give (something) to a younger person especially within the same family
She will pass her diamond ring down to her niece.
It's a family recipe passed down from my great-grandmother.

Cite this Entry

“Pass (something) down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20%28something%29%20down. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster