pass 1 of 3

verb

ˈpas How to pronounce pass (audio)
Definition of passnext
1
as in to hand
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another could you please pass me the phone?

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2
as in to stop
to come to an end eventually, the storm passed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to leave
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out

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4
as in to enact
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech

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5
as in to happen
to take place and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted

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6
as in to undergo
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it a presidential candidate who doesn't yet know how it feels to pass the scrutiny of the national press

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7
as in to say
to express (a thought or emotion) in words he'll occasionally pass some insightful comment, but in general he doesn't have much to contribute

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8
as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to we appreciate the invitation to the party, but we'll have to pass I'll pass on the coffee

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9
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

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pass

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter

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2
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel take the second pass on the right

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pass

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in ticket
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) a pass to leave the military base for the weekend

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2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something a final pass at the assignment

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3
as in realization
the state of being actual or complete eventually, all their career goals came to pass

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pass
Verb
The president also repeated his demand for Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster rules — which require 60 votes to pass most legislation instead of a 51-vote majority — in order to pass the election bill and other GOP priorities. — Kevin Breuninger,justin Papp, CNBC, 10 July 2026 However, playing deeper than the club’s captain in Premier League matches would mean his judicious approach to passing could be a nice bonus, rather than something to be improved upon immediately. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Noun
France initially thought a foul would be called after Dani Olmo took a hit while making the pass to Porro. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026 The back pass rule was introduced in 1992 to prevent goalkeepers from picking up the ball after a pass from a team-mate, and slowing down play by keeping hold of the ball, which reduced goals at the Italy World Cup in 1990. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass
  1. hand
  2. stop
  3. leave
  4. enact
  5. happen
  6. undergo
  7. say
  8. refuse
Verb
  • Rescuers recovered 11 bodies, mostly women and children, and handed them over to relatives for burial, Faizi said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • Women’s World Cup 2019 Two second-half goals handed the United States victory over the Netherlands.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of hand
Verb
  • Throughout the match, the Argentine congregation in the stands at Mercedes-Benz Stadium never stopped believing.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Travel may be getting more expensive, but that isn’t stopping Americans from splurging on bucket-list vacations.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • That leaves the amusement park on the border of the Carolinas in Charlotte and Rock Hill without one of its signature attractions at the height of its busy summer season.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • Democratic socialists often instead cite countries in Scandinavia and Western Europe, which have socialist policies on universal healthcare, housing and higher wages enacted within democratic systems.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Some states have enacted laws specifically targeting zappers.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of enact
Verb
  • Based on that timeline, Gueye’s re-evaluation won’t happen until mid-October at the earliest.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • How else to explain what happened on Wednesday, or eight days prior in the escape against Egypt?
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of happen
Verb
  • North Field on Tinian, which was once the busiest airport in the world, was shut down after the war but is undergoing renovation to become an alternate base to Guam as Washington tries to disperse its assets around the region.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • It is recommended that any batteries in devices that will be stored for significant periods should undergo a maintenance routine to maintain their health by charging them to half capacity every six months.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • Nguyen said that led to an epiphany — and the creation of an Atlanta-area business that has caught the attention of social media scrollers, celebrity clientele and global automakers.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • Giselle Garcia, program director for NorCal Resist, said the arrest data largely tracks with the organization’s own informal counts though emphasized much enforcement goes unaccounted for if families aren’t willing to speak up.
    — Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of say
Verb
  • Vehicle stops can be inherently fraught and unpredictable, with the person behind the wheel in control of thousands of pounds of steel that can pose great risk should a driver refuse to comply or simply panic and flee.
    — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • There was more talk of hitting a provisional, but Spieth refused.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of refuse

Phrases Containing pass

Browse Nearby Words

pasquinading
pass
passable
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Cite this Entry

“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pass

Nglish: Translation of pass for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pass

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