: the act of one that passes or causes to pass
especially
: death sense 1a
1
: going by or past
a passing pedestrian
2
: having a brief duration
a passing whim
3
obsolete
: surpassing
4
: superficial
a passing acquaintance
a passing resemblance
5
a
: 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
: to a surpassing degree : exceedingly
passing strange
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
His recent and sudden passing reminds us that the most meaningful legacies are not measured in headlines, but built on humility, generosity, kindness and the mentorship of others.
—Peter Zaffino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Considering the state of the passing game, that there are 14 rookies on the roster and none of last week’s five starting offensive linemen have a contract beyond 2025, things aren’t good.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Elvis’s passing comes nearly a year after the Osbourne family experienced another loss — the death of Ozzy’s 15-year-old Pomeranian, Rocky, in August 2024.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2025
His recent and sudden passing reminds us that the most meaningful legacies are not measured in headlines, but built on humility, generosity, kindness and the mentorship of others.
—Peter Zaffino, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The bills would have made the left lane of highways solely a passing lane.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Considering the state of the passing game, that there are 14 rookies on the roster and none of last week’s five starting offensive linemen have a contract beyond 2025, things aren’t good.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passing. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
passing
1 of 2 noun
pass·ing
ˈpas-iŋ 
1
: the act of one that passes or causes to pass
2
passing
2 of 2 adjective1
: going by or past
the passing crowd
2
: lasting only for a short time
3
: used for the act or process of passing
the passing lane
4
: given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
a passing grade
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