passes 1 of 3

Definition of passesnext
present tense third-person singular of pass
1
2
3
4
5
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
8
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

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
3

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 play had Gwath inbounding on the far sideline to BJ Davis, who passes to Miles Byrd at the top of the key. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026 The morning drive host on 680 The Fan caught passes from Ryan for three years. Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026 The litigation centers on Dish’s Sling TV selling access to 34 popular channels—including ESPN, ESPN2, the Disney Channel, AMC, TNT and TBS—in one-day, three-day and seven-day passes with no further commitment. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Jan. 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. Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026 Congress passes laws setting punishments for drug offenses. Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026 Three coaches, two GMs; caught passes from nine quarterbacks. Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026 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
Noun
Clarke, a junior, also was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection after totaling 30 tackles, eight passes defended and a fumble recovery in eight games. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 In 13 appearances the past two seasons, including six starts in 2025, McClain has 23 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026 Free passes are available for San Diego County residents aged 62 and older and the disabled. Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 Rodgers also had a few of his passes deflected. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026 Michael Owens / Getty Images Rodgers completed 11 of 14 passes in the 4th quarter for 133 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds remaining in the game that proved to be the game-winner. Mike Darnay, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026 Purdy completed all three of his passes, including the 2-yard score on the slant to Robinson. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026 Clayton Dees has only thrown four passes in his college career - and that’s four more than Christian Langford and DJ Alexander. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026 But from that point forward on the drive, the Packers attempted three passes traveling at least 20 yards past the line of scrimmage. Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
  • Tommy then hands Nate a check from Gallino and tells him to form a new LLC.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Most making the most of the moment Advertisement Judd Apatow hands the Best Director award to Paul Thomas Anderson.
    Melissa Locker, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The team that stops the run and mitigates mistakes will win this one.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The group stops to talk to one who took a fall while riding his bike in his neighborhood.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The end of Pittsburgh’s season leaves a rather large elephant in the room.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Measles can live in the air for up to two hours after someone infected with measles leaves the room, according to the health department.
    Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • States also face decisions on tax cuts The federal law temporarily halts federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay, provides new tax deductions for seniors and some people with auto loans, and enacts numerous new corporate tax breaks.
    David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In a time where AI country singers are making the charts and vocal deepfakes run rampant, the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act enacts protections for artists against unauthorized uses of their voice and likeness in deepfakes and digital replicas.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Reinvention happens when musicians jump genres, like Taylor did from country to pop music.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
  • When this happens, the default advice is often self-care.
    Lorraine K. Lee, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • When dietary fiber undergoes the process of fermentation in the gut, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced.
    Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The auto-shutoff is just one safeguard against overheating; each blanket undergoes vetting with 74 safety checks to prevent potential fire hazards and ensure its durability.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 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
  • Today, a Luddite is your grandparent who keeps looking at the screen rather than the camera when on Zoom, the Boomer who types in all-capital letters, the grouchy man who refuses to get a smart phone, the professor spewing invective against Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
  • However, Lucy refuses to budge and be involved with the case, and Marianne (Gabriella Pession) agrees she shouldn’t be pressured into doing so.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on passes

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!