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

• 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

The Texas House on Thursday passed up the opportunity to honor the life and memory of former Austin Mayor and Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

Ignoring football loyalties, how many people in ordinary life would pass up the opportunity to work for a bigger organisation, in plusher surroundings, with more lucrative prizes to chase, and with a whopping pay rise on offer? —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 28 July 2025

In addition to Gold Phoenix and Atitlan being scratched Sunday morning, defending Read champion Johannes passed up a chance to race Sunday and ships out this week to run back east. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025

This breezy pair of curtains is also tough to pass up at just $15. —Clint Davis, People.com, 27 July 2025

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