pass·ing
| \ ˈpa-siŋ
\
\
Definition of passing
(Entry 1 of 3)
: the act of one that passes or causes to pass
especially
: death sense 1a
in passing
: by the way : incidentally
passing
adjectiveDefinition of passing (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: going by or past
a passing pedestrian
2
: having a brief duration
a passing whim
5a
: of, relating to, or used in or for the act or process of passing
passing lanes
b
: given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
a passing grade
passing
adverbDefinition of passing (Entry 3 of 3)
: to a surpassing degree : exceedingly
passing strange
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Synonyms & Antonyms for passing
Synonyms: Noun
- curtains,
- death,
- decease,
- demise,
- dissolution,
- doom,
- end,
- exit,
- expiration,
- expiry,
- fate,
- grave,
- great divide,
- passage,
- quietus,
- sleep
Synonyms: Adjective
- brief,
- deciduous,
- ephemeral,
- evanescent,
- flash,
- fleeting,
- fugacious,
- fugitive,
- impermanent,
- momentary,
- short-lived,
- temporary,
- transient,
- transitory
Synonyms: Adverb
- achingly,
- almighty,
- archly,
- awful,
- awfully,
- badly,
- beastly,
- blisteringly,
- bone,
- colossally,
- corking,
- cracking,
- damn,
- damned,
- dang,
- deadly,
- desperately,
- eminently,
- enormously,
- especially,
- ever,
- exceedingly
- (also exceeding),
- extra,
- extremely,
- fabulously,
- fantastically,
- far,
- fiercely,
- filthy,
- frightfully,
- full,
- greatly,
- heavily,
- highly,
- hugely,
- immensely,
- incredibly,
- intensely,
- jolly,
- majorly,
- mightily,
- mighty,
- monstrous
- [chiefly dialect],
- mortally,
- most,
- much,
- particularly,
- rattling,
- real,
- really,
- right,
- roaring,
- roaringly,
- seriously,
- severely,
- so,
- sore,
- sorely,
- spanking,
- specially,
- stinking,
- such,
- super,
- supremely,
- surpassingly,
- terribly,
- that,
- thumping,
- too,
- unco,
- uncommonly,
- vastly,
- very,
- vitally,
- way,
- whacking,
- wicked,
- wildly
Antonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
- ceaseless,
- dateless,
- deathless,
- endless,
- enduring,
- eternal,
- everlasting,
- immortal,
- lasting,
- long-lived,
- permanent,
- perpetual,
- timeless,
- undying,
- unending
Antonyms: Adverb
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Examples of passing in a Sentence
Noun
After her husband's passing, she moved to a smaller house.
We all mourned his passing.
Adjective
Someone called out from a passing car.
She sells flowers to passing motorists.
Let's hope that these shoes are just a passing fad.
a passing phase in childhood
Adverb
a passing strange turn of events
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
As the 10-year anniversary of Crowley's passing approached this year, Crowley's grandson, Brennan Crowley, set out to reinvigorate the charity.
—
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 10 July 2021
Mission Viejo showed off an impressive passing combination of quarterback Kadin Semonza to receivers Mikey Matthews and Jackson Holman.
—
Eric Sondheimer Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2021
Reed was 7 of 12 passing in the opener, before the Rattlers knocked him out with an injury.
—
Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2021
But Barty steeled herself to hold there, then broke to get within 5-4 with a cross-court forehand passing winner.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
That idea is strengthened by NFL Next Gen Stats’ own figures, which say that Tannehill passed for just 514 yards on deep passing attempts, ranking towards the bottom of NFL quarterbacks that attempted at least 30 deep passes last season.
—
Liam Fox, Forbes, 7 July 2021
Under Saleh, San Francisco finished 16th in points allowed, fifth in yards allowed, fourth in passing-yards allowed and seventh in rushing-yards allowed last season.
—
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 5 July 2021
Rusnák had five key passing and a shot on goal on Saturday.
—
Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2021
Pine Forest High School, graduating in 2020 with the high school’s passing record.
—
orlandosentinel.com, 2 July 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The measure now moves to the Senate, where its chances of passing are slim, with GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in opposition.
—
Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 June 2021
But it's done so deftly that even those with a more passing knowledge of the myths will find plenty here to love.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 30 June 2021
Ambitious, controversial ideas are often easier to test in cities than at the federal level, where the legislative filibuster and partisan deadlock makes passing laws difficult.
—
Konrad Putzier, WSJ, 10 June 2021
But both teams would probably be wise to hang on to their draft capital and cap space in the event the Packers eventually dangle Rodgers, if not the pursuit of a passing upgrade during next year's draft of free agency.
—
Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 5 June 2021
Martin, the receivers coach, and Williams, the passing game specialist, are coaching and teaching on every play.
—
Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, 27 May 2021
The latest crisis in Gaza cannot be set aside as just another passing episode in Hamas’s forever war against Israel’s existence.
—
Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 23 May 2021
Someone inside of a passing white sedan fired shots hitting her in the stomach.
—
Deanese Williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, 22 May 2021
The guess by local authorities is that the turtle was crawling along on the active highway and got picked up by a passing semi-truck that then launched it from the massive wheels and into the air.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 6 May 2021
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'passing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Learn More About passing
Statistics for passing
Last Updated
13 Jul 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passing. Accessed 23 Jul. 2021.
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More Definitions for passing
passing
noun
English Language Learners Definition of passing
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the act of moving toward and beyond something
—used to talk about the movement of time —usually + of
formal
: a person's death
passing
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of passing (Entry 2 of 2)
: moving past someone or something
—used to talk about time that is going past
: lasting for only a short time
See the full definition for passing in the English Language Learners Dictionary
passing
adjective
pass·ing
| \ ˈpa-siŋ
\
\
Kids Definition of passing
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: going by or past
passing cars
2
: lasting only for a short time
a passing fad
3
: showing haste or lack of attention
a passing glance
4
: used for going past
passing lanes
5
: showing satisfactory work in a test or course of study
a passing mark
passing
nounKids Definition of passing (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: the act of going by or going away
We await the passing of winter.
2
: death sense 1
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Time Traveler for passing
The first known use of passing was in the 14th century
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