pass up

verb

passed up; passing up; passes up

transitive verb

: to let go by without accepting or taking advantage of
pass up a chance for promotion
also : decline, reject

Examples of pass up in a Sentence

I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On both plays, Maye passed up safer choices — taking a sack and a checkdown — to scramble; chasing the type of extended play that had just rewarded him, but ultimately burned his team. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 Some deals are just too good to pass up, and today's Best Buy picks prove it. PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025 That’s still true now, even as that back has a degenerative disorder that led to weeks missed in training camp and has this 37-year-old dirting the ball in the face of rushers and passing up lanes to rush for touchdowns. Nate Atkins, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 Unless there are some screaming deals and mark-downs that are impossible to pass up. Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pass up

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass up was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pass up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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