passes 1 of 3

present tense third-person singular of pass
1
2
3
4
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as in undergoes
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
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as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

passes

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pass

passes

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pass
1
as in tickets
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
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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 passes
Verb
The lockers help lower cost per order by 30%, and Sea passes the savings on to consumers Li said. Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025 Along the way, the train passes through dense forests and narrow river canyons. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025 The Senate on Monday night passes the funding legislation in a 60-40 vote. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2025 Alexander-Walker, meanwhile, is a useful secondary creator who readily slings cross-court passes with his left hand but struggles with shoot-pass decisions in a more prominent role. John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 If the Senate passes the continuing resolution, the House will then have to vote on the deal. Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025 In California, Gavin Newsom‘s presidential ambitions stand to get a boost if his redistricting initiative, Proposition 50, passes. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025 The trail passes through burn areas from massive wildfires, now sprinkled with young lodgepole pines and wildflowers. Outside, 4 Nov. 2025 Every runner any of us passes is a point for the team. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
So far this season, Stafford has thrown 25 touchdown passes while completing over 65% of his attempts and tossing just two interceptions. Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025 Only 12 times in 21 seasons has Rodgers thrown at least 20 passes and completed a lower percentage of them. Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 Achane contributed 174 of those yards on 22 carries, and also caught six passes, turning those receptions into 51 yards. Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025 Instead, senior quarterback Daniel Vaita responded after throwing a pick-six on his first drive of the second half with two touchdown passes to Roye Oliver III, and added a two-point conversion run. Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 9 Nov. 2025 North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez was 18-of-25 with 203 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025 Herbert has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past three games, including two against the Titans. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 Some answers were offered at the SDSU practice field during Saturday evening’s scrimmage, which was highlighted by 60- and 70-yard passes from junior transfer quarterback Jayden Denegal to senior transfer wide receiver Myles Kitt-Denton. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025 According to the same source, Locatelli also completed a game-high 127 passes and created two clear scoring opportunities for his team-mates before using a post-match interview to credit the impact Tudor’s arrival has had. Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
  • He is whisked away from a charity basketball event to his Air Force One, where Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves (Jonah Hauer-King) hands him the Black Bag and instructs him to choose which retaliatory strike option to approve.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Sullivan then hands Cameron his radio and tells him to take Jones to the medic truck.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The elevator stops at each floor and a new ghostly guest arrives offering some insight into Will’s plan.
    Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Some gardeners choose to pinch those old flowers away every day to enhance the look of their plants, while others decide to wait until the entire flower scape stops blooming to cut the scape stem down to the soil line.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Back in 1962, Lilly leaves Juniper Hill with a higher dose of medication, which seems like the best-case scenario given the threat of lobotomy in the show’s opening titles.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The key is to fold the scarf over itself to create volume and to look for a lace trim that leaves the hem frayed, so as not to look too formal.
    Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Eighteen states have passed bills opting to adopt daylight saving time as the permanent standard time, but the laws can’t go into effect until the federal government enacts similar legislation.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
  • What Green Crew enacts outdoors, the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America (CPA-NA) advances in therapy rooms and community dialogues.
    Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • So what happens if your flight is affected?
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • When this happens, visibilities frequently drop to one-quarter of a mile or less.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Clyde Sharikova-Sudarma, a local veterinarian who undergoes expensive annual MRIs for an ongoing medical condition, said his premiums could double next year.
    Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • In the wake of Tuesday’s crash, the Federal Aviation Administration effectively grounded all MD-11 and MD-11F aircrafts until each undergoes a thorough inspection.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The first words Mariah Carey utters on her 16th studio album are quintessential diva.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The season 2 finale centered around a tornado destroying the store, when Brett utters his only line of dialogue in the series as the storm approaches.
    Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The place is decaying and strict, but Luna refuses to give in to its rules.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
  • But Chiles refuses to let anyone’s score define her.
    Essence, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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