1
as in hands
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stops
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaves
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 enacts
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 happens
to take place
and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
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
as in utters
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 refuses
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 flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in canyons
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 routes
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
take the second pass on the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
3
as in accomplishments
the state of being actual or complete
eventually, all their career goals came to pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of passes
Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026
That path passes through Iranian waters and along the coasts of Qeshm and Larak Islands and is well away from the traditional Hormuz shipping lanes that hug the southern coast of the waterway.
—Julian Lee, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
If the ballot measure passes, a task force will be tasked with finalizing the basic details of how the county’s ethics commission will work.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
While content creators can purchase their own tickets — often shelling out thousands for entry — many are invited by brands, some of which offer to cover airfare, accommodations and passes into the festival.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Roughly 20% of global oil and gas typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
An elevated rail line passes through to carry coal to the rest of the country.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
Nagle finished his time as the Jets’ starter with a 3-10 record and seven touchdown passes.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
For those who drive, parking passes must be purchased in advance.
—Michelle Kaufman
april 10, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Two odd passes led to Buendia’s interception ricocheting into Watkins’ path for Villa’s second.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
During Seattle Museum Month in February, visitors with passes get 50 percent off admission to museums around the city.
—Scott Bay, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
Tickets and passes are on sale now.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Weekend, season and group passes are available.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
One-day passes start at $41, or $75 for both days when purchased online, with higher prices at the door.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Miles projects as a commanding dynamo who will cause havoc with her ability to play at a high tempo in transition, move the ball quickly in the half-court offense and deliver no-look passes from any angle.
—Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026
That path passes through Iranian waters and along the coasts of Qeshm and Larak Islands and is well away from the traditional Hormuz shipping lanes that hug the southern coast of the waterway.
—Julian Lee, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
If the ballot measure passes, a task force will be tasked with finalizing the basic details of how the county’s ethics commission will work.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
While content creators can purchase their own tickets — often shelling out thousands for entry — many are invited by brands, some of which offer to cover airfare, accommodations and passes into the festival.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Roughly 20% of global oil and gas typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
An elevated rail line passes through to carry coal to the rest of the country.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
For a bouquet of two dozen daffodils each week of daffodil season, Shickasheen offers picking passes at $35 per person.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
Nagle finished his time as the Jets’ starter with a 3-10 record and seven touchdown passes.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
For those who drive, parking passes must be purchased in advance.
—Michelle Kaufman
april 10, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Two odd passes led to Buendia’s interception ricocheting into Watkins’ path for Villa’s second.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
During Seattle Museum Month in February, visitors with passes get 50 percent off admission to museums around the city.
—Scott Bay, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
Tickets and passes are on sale now.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Weekend, season and group passes are available.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
One-day passes start at $41, or $75 for both days when purchased online, with higher prices at the door.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
-
When life hands you lemon seeds, plant a lemon tree.—
Nashia Baker,
Martha Stewart,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The manager who hands her team an exit map and watches most of them stay anyway has done something the board retreat, the culture consultant, and the engagement platform cannot.—
Charles Edward Gehrke,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If a person with HIV stops taking ART, the virus begins spreading again.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The future of the investigation is uncertain, as the committee often stops investigating when lawmakers resign.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As part of this singularly unconventional deal, CBS pays not a red cent for the privilege of covering the tourney, and while that leaves as much as $125 million in rights fees on the table, Augusta more than makes up for that by way of the gate, merch and concessions.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
This desperate situation leaves Republicans with no choice but to destroy that which threatens to destroy them.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In this light, the death penalty becomes not merely a tool of criminal justice but a declaration of supremacy – an instrument through which the state enacts its divine mandate.—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The siting of the rites at the Colosseum—where it has been held since 1964, echoing a practice from the eighteenth century—means that the Pope enacts Jesus’ final hours not in a Baroque basilica but against the backdrop of the Roman Empire, which exercised power through violence.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The real action happens outside of the courtroom—at the Cairo Club, or the bar at the Lafayette Hotel, or F&M Patio Bar—where the heat and the music and the drinks have a way of bringing Lemann back to herself.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Check-in happens in the room which makes everyone's life easier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Students and faculty in TCU’s theater and music programs will temporarily relocate to four spaces as the College of Fine Arts’ Ed Landreth Hall undergoes renovations.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Yuri undergoes a pretty big character arc this season and is forced to grow in a lot of ways.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The phrase also sometimes is used as a battle cry and has been employed by those with a nefarious agenda to instill fear of anyone who utters it and to raise concerns about Islam itself, according to Muslim scholars and civil rights advocates.—
Michelle Krupa,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Falduto utters the words as his character Billy to Dewey, playing the opinionated student who becomes the stylist for the band.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Bose Bluetooth Speaker Deal The Bose SoundLink Flex is a rugged, high-fidelity speaker that refuses to quit.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In many areas, the tournament refuses to modernize, such as its prohibition of cell phones.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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