pass 1 of 3

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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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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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)

pass

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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
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 2025 memorial passed the House but was not taken up in the Senate. Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026 Iran has retaliated by targeting ships trying to pass through the strait, with multiple incidents reported in recent days. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
Fitzpatrick spent most of six seasons with the Steelers, making the All-Pro team three times while picking off 18 passes during that time. Dennis Waszak, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026 Ebikitie and Paye appear best suited for rotational pass-rushing roles, just as Chaisson was a year ago. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass
Verb
  • Last month, in a separate case, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal handed Lai a rare legal victory by overturning his conviction for fraud ⁠and ​quashing a 69-month sentence.
    Reuters 8 hr ago, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The Heat was in control the rest of the way, handing the Nets their 10th straight loss.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Kuemper stopped 21 shots for the Kings, who entered the night one point out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Rather than stopping disagreements from happening, this aspect is about repairing any damage left behind.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Late November through May is the dry season there, which means fewer rains to stir up the water—leaving it with some of the clearest visibility for snorkeling and diving all year.
    Annie Daly, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
  • San Francisco put on the hardest of sells on to try to keep the talented linebacker — head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch flew to Texas to try to talk him out of leaving — but Greenlaw ultimately chose the Broncos.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, California government has preferred to move quickly to enact laws to limit indoor residential water use.
    Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Kaup said several neighboring communities — including Highland Park, Deerfield and Vernon Hills — have enacted similar bans.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Liege police said that the blast outside the synagogue happened in the early hours of Monday morning.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The number one thing will be what happens with these state lawsuits.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • First introduced in the 1990s, the missile is undergoing life-extension programs intended to keep it operational into the mid-21st century, reports Army Recognition.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The venue is the first major entertainment addition to the next phase of development at Centennial Yards, which is undergoing a massive redevelopment.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • China’s biggest chain of eye hospitals is working with an adviser on the share sale, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.
    Julia Fioretti, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Jeffrey Singer, a doctor and senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, said decentralization can be beneficial.
    Angela Hart, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • More than a year later, with much of the Palisades still in ruins, LAFD leaders have refused to explain how or why the breakdowns occurred.
    Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Tommy Thompson, a research scientist who was imprisoned for a decade after refusing to disclose where an 1800s shipwreck's gold coins were being stored, was released, according to federal Bureau of Prisons records.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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