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
Kiwanis members were among those sad to hear of the passing of longtime community activist Richard Keith Dirham at age 80.
—
Sam Boyer, cleveland, 21 May 2021
That the archival footage is repurposed in the film is in part a metaphor for the complexity and poignancy of the passing of time.
—
The New Yorker, 12 May 2021
What is ironic and somewhat confusing about the passing of the economic torch now taking place in Washington is that Mr. Summers himself helped to start it.
—
Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2021
Kueng and Lane, rookie officers who responded to a 911 complaint about the passing of a counterfeit bill at a local market, were the first to encounter Floyd at the scene.
—
Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2021
Several Ocoee and West Orange players paid their last respects Monday after Wilson’s passing.
—
Chris Hays, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Apr. 2021
Last Saturday, Prince Charles recorded a video statement expressing his grief over his father's passing and thanking the public for their well wishes and support.
—
Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Apr. 2021
Princess Anne released a statement about her father's passing, and his legacy.
—
Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 12 Apr. 2021
Meanwhile, Piers Morgan, is being a bit of a jerk about his predecessor's passing—and is facing a bit of backlash.
—
Chron, 23 Jan. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Hedberg, 66, a former NFL quarterback, is the passing-game coordinator and QBs coach at a program that’s won eight of the past 10 FCS national titles.
—
Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 May 2021
And Lewis wants to make sure this isn't a passing moment.
—
Giulia Heyward And Melissa Gray, CNN, 5 Dec. 2020
Last season in Atlanta, Quinn’s defense gave up the most passing yards (4,697), second-most yards-after-catch (92,224) and compiled the fifth fewest pass breakups (51).
—
Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 15 May 2021
Arizona was intent on improving a passing game that, outside of DeAndre Hopkins' heroics, largely went stale.
—
Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 3 May 2021
The Browns’ defense gave up the 11th most passing yards in the league last year, including 31 touchdown passes, the eighth highest total in the league.
—
Jim Ingraham, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2021
In his 10 games, Burrow had 874 more passing yards than Tagovailoa, and Herbert threw for 31 touchdowns in 15 games.
—
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 27 Mar. 2021
The defense allowed Wisconsin pass-catchers to roam free all night, and could've given up more passing yards had the Badgers not pulled on the reins after staking a 28-point lead.
—
Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, 15 Nov. 2020
A week later, Uiagalelei threw for 439 yards, the most passing yards ever given up by Notre Dame despite a 47-40 OT loss.
—
Pete Iacobelli, orlandosentinel.com, 26 Feb. 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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Dictionary Entries near passing
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Last Updated
7 Jun 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passing. Accessed 15 Jun. 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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