Synonyms of pass

pass 1 of 3

verb

ˈpas 

1

as in to hand

to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

could you please pass me the phone?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hand
• reach
• transfer
• give
• buck
• carry
• hand over
• relay
• render
• handle
• deliver
• relinquish
• yield
• bear
• surrender
• give up
• turn over
• release
• finger
• cede
• paw

2

as in to stop

to come to an end

eventually, the storm passed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• end
• expire
• conclude
• halt
• cease
• go
• terminate
• finish
• die
• close
• lapse
• determine
• elapse
• wind up
• stall
• leave off
• discontinue
• break off
• break up
• wink (out)
• let up
• quit
• bite the dust
• dead-end
• refrain (from)
• pause
• lay off (of)
• suspend
• stay
• desist (from)
• cut out
• pack (up or in)
• break down
• give over
• knock off
• wind down
• abate
• peter (out)
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• persist
• hang on
• extend
• prolong
• draw out
• protract

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leave
• hand
• give
• transfer
• deliver
• delegate
• transmit
• relinquish
• recommend
• entrust
• commend
• commit
• trust
• grant
• confide
• turn over
• submit
• hand over
• lend
• consign
• loan
• intrust
• vest
• distribute
• assign
• confer
• will
• give over
• divide
• bequeath
• dispense
• repose
• furnish
• deal (out)
• disperse
• supply
• turn in
• yield
• surrender
• release
• advance
• hand in
• hand down
• hand on
• recommit
• retransmit
• redeliver
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hold
• keep
• retain
• receive
• withhold
• possess
• accept
• own
• take
• reserve
• detain
• hold back
• occupy
• take over
• take in

4

as in to enact

to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action

Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enact
• constitute
• approve
• legislate
• make
• lay down
• dictate
• ordain
• permit
• authorize
• repass
• ratify
• effect
• bring about
• allow
• proclaim
• execute
• sanction
• reenact
• administer
• decree
• confirm

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• revoke
• repeal
• rescind
• kill
• cancel
• invalidate
• abolish
• reverse
• nullify
• void
• annul
• abrogate
• overturn

5

as in to happen

to take place

and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• happen
• come
• be
• do
• occur
• come down
• come about
• cook
• come to pass
• chance
• befall
• come off
• go down
• transpire
• go on
• develop
• hap
• proceed
• rise
• betide
• materialize
• arise
• come up
• result
• intervene
• shape (up)
• break
• follow
• fall out
• spring (up)
• turn out
• crop (up)
• go off

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• undergo
• experience
• have
• endure
• see
• know
• witness
• feel
• suffer
• taste
• sustain
• receive
• encounter
• go through
• meet
• accept
• digest
• assimilate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• say
• tell
• utter
• talk
• speak
• share
• discuss
• give
• put
• state
• articulate
• bring out
• verbalize
• announce
• vocalize
• publish
• put into words
• shout
• enunciate
• look
• post
• voice
• declare
• get off
• proclaim
• air
• advertise
• whisper
• promulgate
• blurt
• affirm
• sound
• ventilate
• breathe
• assert
• vent
• formulate
• publicize
• word
• mouth
• broadcast
• shoot
• murmur
• phrase
• gasp
• aver
• allege
• bolt
• lip
• avow
• comment
• blaze
• couch
• chirp
• blabber
• spout
• remark
• clothe
• rip (out)
• snarl
• splutter
• formulize
• avouch
• purr
• pipe up (with)
• drawl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppress
• stifle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuse
• reject
• ignore
• decline
• avoid
• deny
• pass up
• spurn
• veto
• turn down
• withdraw
• forbid
• dismiss
• throw over
• disapprove
• throw out
• dispute
• deselect
• balk (at)
• repudiate
• negative
• overrule
• nix
• prohibit
• reprobate
• blow off
• scout
• rebuff
• turn one's back on
• disdain
• retract
• revoke
• scorn
• recall
• renounce
• proscribe
• refrain (from)
• take back
• shoot down
• bypass
• stick
• abstain (from)
• forbear
• foreswear
• disclaim
• gainsay
• disavow
• contradict
• detour
• refute
• negate
• recant
• disallow
• forswear
• disagree (with)
• controvert
• disprove
• backtrack
• rebut
• disown
• back down
• unsay
• abjure
• renege
• back off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• approve
• agree (to)
• receive
• take
• swallow
• tolerate
• adopt
• welcome
• embrace
• condone
• agree
• select
• choose
• acquiesce
• consent
• countenance
• accede
• assent
• support
• espouse
• handpick

9

as in to fly

to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval

the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fly
• work
• stand up
• wash
• play
• take
• hold up
• hold water
• pass muster
• get through
• go down
• go over
• go through

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• canyon
• gorge
• ravine
• valley
• gap
• saddle
• defile
• col
• gulch
• notch
• flume
• abyss
• gulf
• crevice
• linn
• gill
• couloir
• cañon
• trench
• kloof
• fissure
• glen
• cleft
• chasm
• vale
• gutter
• crevasse
• wash
• hollow
• basin
• draw
• dale
• cirque
• trough
• combe
• coombe
• dell
• kettle
• coomb
• gulley
• shut-in
• gully
• barranca
• arroyo
• coulee
• wadi
• floodplain
• barranco
• nullah
• cwm

2

as in road

a passage cleared for public vehicular travel

take the second pass on the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

• road
• highway
• street
• route
• freeway
• thoroughfare
• expressway
• drive
• roadway
• boulevard
• way
• arterial
• turnpike
• carriageway
• artery
• avenue
• causeway
• interstate
• row
• lane
• pike
• high road
• drag
• thruway
• trace
• bypass
• motorway
• parkway
• trail
• corridor
• superhighway
• track
• autobahn
• Main Street
• alley
• ring road
• switchback
• through street
• side street
• close
• side road
• byway
• dual carriageway
• branch
• dead end
• high street
• secondary road
• beltway
• crossroad
• circle
• place
• alleyway
• autoroute
• autostrada
• corniche
• shunpike
• bystreet
• mews
• laneway
• cul-de-sac
• backstreet

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ticket
• check
• coupon
• certificate
• token
• note
• voucher
• pasteboard

2

as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something

a final pass at the assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attempt
• try
• go
• stab
• offer
• bid
• shot
• endeavor
• essay
• trial
• crack
• assay
• fling
• bash
• whack
• whirl
• struggle
• undertaking
• striving
• throes
• trial and error

3

as in realization

the state of being actual or complete

eventually, all their career goals came to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• realization
• accomplishment
• achievement
• success
• fulfillment
• fulfilment
• attainment
• fruition
• consummation
• triumph
• actualization
• actuality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• naught
• defeat
• failure
• nought
• nonfulfillment
• fizzle
• nonsuccess

Examples of pass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Republicans would eventually pass legislation in Congress later that year that repealed the individual mandate. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2024

And that's apparent in a House resolution that passed just a few months ago. —Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Noun

Entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban took it a few steps further, spending six figures to buy a lifetime flight pass. —Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2024

Daniels’ accuracy in Washington’s impressive Sunday road win against the Arizona Cardinals continued his historic start to the season, with his pass attempt completion percentage setting the record for best of any player through a four-week span since 1950. —Ben Morse, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing pass

• come to pass
• pass (for)
• pass (on)
• pass (over)
• pass away
• pass muster
• pass off
• pass out
• pass over
• pass up