pass up

verb

Definition of pass upnext
as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 up Seoul claims Ukraine requested secrecy to avoid domestic criticism for passing up the opportunity to exchange the North Koreans for Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026 One thing Raye will never pass up is an opportunity to bring big band back to big stages. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026 The Steelers’ offense could limit his upside, but the opportunity in a potentially high-scoring game is too good to pass up. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026 Franco Sarto Geralyna Boots Franco Sarto is one of my go-to comfortable shoe brands, and these on sale knee-high boots are too good to pass up. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass up
  1. refuse
  2. reject
  3. decline
  4. turn down
  5. throw over
Verb
  • Israel, which has refused to cooperate with the commission since it was established in 2021, has strenuously denied the accusations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • El Sayed acknowledged that both Israel and Iran could cause harm but refused twice to rank one as the greater threat.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • Justice Brett Kavanaugh quickly rejected the appeal without seeing any need to refer it to his colleagues, and the matter appeared to be closed—for an hour or so, anyway.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • On the same day, Newsom also rejected a measure that would have stopped federal immigration enforcement officers from using their experience to obtain a state training waiver.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of reject
Verb
  • When Albin returned to the question of which country posed the greater threat to American interests, el Sayed again declined to choose between them, arguing that both had demonstrated the capacity to cause harm.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Courtesy of Heineken, 2026 Caton declined to say how many European jobs will go, citing ongoing consultation with staff and the European Works Council.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Nobody’s retiring off a Fantasy 5 drawing, but nobody would turn down the $56,615 won by each of the players who chose 3, 11, 14, 19 and 31.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Even at the lower figure, that’s about double the $2 million his mom turned down.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn down
Verb
  • With its three-quarter sleeves and boat neckline, Hadid’s version felt particularly well suited to these strange in-between September days, a cream suede jacket thrown over her bag just in case.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In his breakout season in 2025, Maye showed that one of his quarterbacking superpowers is throwing over the middle of the field.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of throw over

Browse Nearby Words

passports
pass up
password
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Cite this Entry

“Pass up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass%20up. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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