pass 1 of 7

verb (1)

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

pass

2 of 7

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

pass

3 of 7

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pass (for)

4 of 7

verb (2)

as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of in public they pass for being a loving couple, but in reality they are only friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

pass (on)

5 of 7

verb (3)

as in to die
to stop living my grandfather passed on at the age of 92

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pass (over)

6 of 7

verb (4)

as in to traverse
to make one's way through, across, or over passed over two bridges

Synonyms & Similar Words

pass over

7 of 7

verb (5)

1
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to you seem to have passed over an important e-mail notice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to forgive
to dismiss as of little importance I'd be willing to pass over this latest episode of tardiness if there hadn't been so many before

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 council would then examine the details surrounding the change before passing an ordinance expanding those voting rights. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 But football has repeatedly embraced innovations ​once viewed as unthinkable, from the back-pass rule to VAR and longer stoppage time. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Noun
The source emphasized that the Omanis have maintained their commitment to let shipping traffic pass without tolls and noted that the proposal did not contain any mandatory tolls. — Abigail Williams, NBC news, 3 July 2026 Balogun, just inside the penalty box, collected Tillman’s pass that deflected off Bosnia’s Muharemovic. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Verb
Price and Rinne were selected in their second, with Henrik Zetterberg and Rod Brind’Amour among those passed over again. — Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 Back in his coaching career, Cruyff was one of the first managers to be obsessed with the cut of the pitch — a trait that has passed over to his disciples, most notably the exacting Pep Guardiola. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 25 June 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
  • For purpose, whether anyone can trace their daily work to the larger picture without being handed a slogan.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • In the midst of handing the job over to his son, even as Diego is making a speech about water supplies, hygiene and education, Don Alejandro snatches it back to cheers, clutches his heart and dies.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of hand
Verb
  • When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Making new friends isn’t something that has to stop at a certain point in your life.
    — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
    — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • The Islamic Republic is expected to enact unprecedented security measures, overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the Basij paramilitary force will coordinate logistics, accommodation and crowd management across the various cities.
    — Emma Graham, CNBC, 4 July 2026
  • Passed as the second of three Reconstruction amendments, the 14th Amendment was enacted after the Civil War.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 4 July 2026
Definition of enact
Verb
  • That was a normal action in football that happened by accident.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • This is the business end, and this is the stage where, in my opinion, the big players step forward and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 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
  • Sources told Rolling Stone that Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend of Swift, will be present at the ceremony — and another said that the singer-songwriter would perform on the special day.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • In a press release, Bonta reiterated his commitment to combating hate in California, and said the data obtained are accessible and critical to stopping such crimes in the state.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of say
Verb
  • Hamas’ statement made no mention of disarmament, one of the key requirements under the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which the group has so far refused.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • To conceal the theft from his investors, Correia refused to disclose his company’s financial records and gave false positive updates on SnoOwl’s status.
    — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of refuse

Phrases Containing pass

Browse Nearby Words

pasquinading
pass
passable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pass

Nglish: Translation of pass for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pass

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All