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
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Recent Examples of passes
Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The entrance to the car park even passes under a portcullis and guests’ bags go through an X-ray machine hidden in the rock-face.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The triatomine then passes the parasite through its droppings.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
That light passes through the Fresnel lenses, which perform the mathematical transformation.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
During this stellar event, Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the moon’s surface.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
If that passes muster, then some of these other details will fade away.
—Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Ten different players caught passes from Beck, including Malachi Toney with six for 80 yards and Daniels with five for 73 yards (including the two touchdowns) before Emory Williams took over starting on Miami’s second drive of the third quarter.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The law imposes a 25-cent tax on each online sports bet, rising to 50 cents once a sportsbook passes 20 million wagers in a fiscal year.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The 41-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback threw four touchdown passes and finished with 244 yards as his new team beat the New York Jets, 34-32 — leading the signal-caller to send a clear message to his fans and the haters.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But, for most of the afternoon, the defense struggled to close up the middle and seemed willing to give up shorter passes that had Cleveland chipping away downfield.
—Mike Straw, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mahomes completed 24 of 39 passes, and one of those throws in particular stood out.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
But the way Herbert flashed early in his career, tossing seven touchdown passes and only one interception in a 2021 season sweep of the defending AFC champion Chiefs, had come to feel like a tease.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Six separate receivers have caught touchdown passes already this season, a stark difference from a season ago when Green was criticized for being too reliant on a small number of playmakers.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Drew Gustafson was 13-of-15 for 272 yards and two touchdown passes in Masconomet’s 41-7 victory over Newburyport.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 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
Verb
So, to observe them, astronomers rely on stellar occultations — moments when an object passes between them and a background star.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The entrance to the car park even passes under a portcullis and guests’ bags go through an X-ray machine hidden in the rock-face.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The triatomine then passes the parasite through its droppings.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
That light passes through the Fresnel lenses, which perform the mathematical transformation.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
During this stellar event, Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the moon’s surface.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
If that passes muster, then some of these other details will fade away.
—Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Ten different players caught passes from Beck, including Malachi Toney with six for 80 yards and Daniels with five for 73 yards (including the two touchdowns) before Emory Williams took over starting on Miami’s second drive of the third quarter.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The law imposes a 25-cent tax on each online sports bet, rising to 50 cents once a sportsbook passes 20 million wagers in a fiscal year.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Wilson had his fair share of struggles in Week 1 against the Commanders, completing just 46 percent of his passes, throwing for 168 passing yards en route to a 21-6 loss.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The 41-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback threw four touchdown passes and finished with 244 yards as his new team beat the New York Jets, 34-32 — leading the signal-caller to send a clear message to his fans and the haters.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
But, for most of the afternoon, the defense struggled to close up the middle and seemed willing to give up shorter passes that had Cleveland chipping away downfield.
—Mike Straw, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mahomes completed 24 of 39 passes, and one of those throws in particular stood out.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
But the way Herbert flashed early in his career, tossing seven touchdown passes and only one interception in a 2021 season sweep of the defending AFC champion Chiefs, had come to feel like a tease.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Six separate receivers have caught touchdown passes already this season, a stark difference from a season ago when Green was criticized for being too reliant on a small number of playmakers.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Drew Gustafson was 13-of-15 for 272 yards and two touchdown passes in Masconomet’s 41-7 victory over Newburyport.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
-
So the next time life hands you something unexpected, a shift in direction, a surprise offer, a new connection that lights you up, don’t overanalyze.—
Shelley Zalis,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Prater hands Dexter a knife to facilitate Batista’s slaying.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And the hope is that this creature, who's all set up to create chaos and violence, somehow stops that and changes it all.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
-
With the right mix of competence and strategy, engineers can create careers that are both resilient and rewarding in a world that never stops changing.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At each camp, the team leaves behind a small but powerful item, a red card that explains what to do during encounters with immigration officials.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
When her mother leaves the room for a moment, she's accosted by a demonic entity that toys with her through funhouse-style reflections, creating this evil doppelganger of Judy.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Commissioners’ closest vote involved the portion of the budget legislation that enacts a less than 1% increase in household trash fees.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The rule also increases the maximum annual cost-sharing limitation and enacts stricter income-verification measures.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Back at SeaWorld, Labor Day weekend marked the last performances in the Dolphin Amphitheater until early 2026, as the stadium undergoes a renovation.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
People looking to support Avenue Grill as the restaurant undergoes reparations can keep the business in their prayers and stay connected via social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, for updates on reopening, according to a statement by Avenue Grill sent to the Free Press.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
To use the Breathalyzer app by Outreach Smartphone Monitoring or by House Arrest App, the user utters a pass phrase and then blows into the Breathalyzer while the app captures and transmits a short video along with the user’s GPS location to a corrections officer.—
Robert S. Gable,
IEEE Spectrum,
20 July 2017
Verb
-
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And even though the military is short of manpower, the government refuses to draft ultra-orthodox men, whose religious political parties are key to the Netanyahu coalition.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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