as in refused
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
Relevance
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 passed up
Over one in ten report being passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead because of their age.
—
Helen Dennis, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
He was passed up by most every FBS program coming out of Greenville High in Texas.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
And with James Beard Award semifinalist Colleen Hughes at the bar, a cocktail or mocktail should not be passed up.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
Helen Dennis, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
He was passed up by most every FBS program coming out of Greenville High in Texas.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
And with James Beard Award semifinalist Colleen Hughes at the bar, a cocktail or mocktail should not be passed up.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed up
Verb
-
The parties have been in a standoff for days as Democrats, namely in the Senate, have refused to offer the necessary votes to pass a funding measure that would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Even after numerous prompt adjustments and desperate rephrasings, that feeling of the previous weeks’ intimate interactions refused to return.—
Jon Michael Varese,
The Atlantic,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the time, Bailey denied claims that the film was initially rejected due to censorship but rather footage clearance and security concerns.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But his grades had been mediocre, and he was rejected right and left, which neither fazed nor surprised him.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office also declined to answer whether deputies assisted in the operation.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Mortgage rates have been coming down, but there has yet to be a spike in homebuying activity—and one leading indicator has even declined.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most of those variance requests were turned down, including Struve and Unger’s.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Exxon made the big oil discovery in the Stabroek Block in 2015 after Chevron and many other oil producers turned down the opportunity to invest in exploration, and emerged as the operator and 45% owner of the development.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Studies show that when couples use no contraception, about 30 percent of fertilized eggs never implant, and another 30 percent implant briefly before being passed from the body usually without the woman ever knowing.—
Mimi Zieman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Some state legislatures have passed grant programs meant to help schools foot the bill for those upgrades, including in Texas and Florida, where mass shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in 2018 and Robb Elementary School in 2022 rattled the country.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Great Again hats and T-shirts emblazoned with Kirk’s face, ignored the registration queries and continued chatting with friends.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Although the federal law raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 took effect in 2019, many retailers either ignored the regulation or failed to check buyers’ ages.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passed%20up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share