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

Synonyms of pass up

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• turn down
• throw over

Examples of pass up in a Sentence

I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event.

Recent Examples on the Web

Few shoes can measure up to their breathability and cushy comfort, plus the chance to personalize them with Crocs’ Jibbitz charms is hard to pass up. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026

But given the longer timeframe with the Uribe seat, Jarred Cornell, interim chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, doubted the Republican governor would pass up the chance to pick someone like-minded to fill it. —Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026

The Supreme Court is staying out of a case about whether the Catholic Church misled parishioners about the purpose of an annual collection, passing up a chance to probe the independence churches have from government interference. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 May 2026

Graham fired a shot from just outside the box after a series of one-touch passes up the middle of the field. —Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pass up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup