as in flash
lasting only for a short time
his parents were willing to buy him a piano if he demonstrated that his interest in music was more than a passing fancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities
the precise moment of his passing was recorded by the machines at his bedside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
a passing strange turn of events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stopping
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaving
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 enacting
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 happening
to take place
and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in experiencing
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 uttering
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 refusing
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 flying
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of passing
Jonathan M. Alexander, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
Adding defensive end Rashan Gary will help bolster a pass rush that was dormant for stretches at a time last season, and bringing in safety Jalen Thompson will give some reliability on the back end that Dallas desperately needed after giving up the most passing yards of any team in the NFL in 2025.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
Huarte had four service breaks — the last being a cross-court passing shot on match point.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
But after the catastrophe that precedes it, the moment feels like passing around a collection plate at a funeral.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
The following season, Klein was featured more in the passing game, but Casula says injuries halted his progress.
—Jonathan M. Alexander, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
Adding defensive end Rashan Gary will help bolster a pass rush that was dormant for stretches at a time last season, and bringing in safety Jalen Thompson will give some reliability on the back end that Dallas desperately needed after giving up the most passing yards of any team in the NFL in 2025.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
Mensah was second in the nation with 3,973 passing yards last season.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
Huarte had four service breaks — the last being a cross-court passing shot on match point.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The education funding bill was the closest vote in the budget, passing 83-68 in the House, with 22 Republicans breaking ranks to join Democrats.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
But after the catastrophe that precedes it, the moment feels like passing around a collection plate at a funeral.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
The heaviest rain has shifted eastward, with the island of Molokai under a flash-flood warning on Sunday.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Kansas City will go from springlike warmth to winter fast as a powerful storm sweeps through Sunday, bringing damaging winds, a rapid temperature plunge with flash-freeze risk, and a quick burst of snow that could cut visibility, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But those numbers capture only a fraction of deaths, which often are classified only by other, more immediate causes, such as bleeding in the brain.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
-
Too much damage has been done to the character in recent years, to the point that any death would be seen as a mercy killing now.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Adverb
-
This other cousin is now in her mid-70s and has always enjoyed a very luxurious life due to the business success of her father – my uncle – and our grandfather.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
With the naked eye and especially through good binoculars, its conjunction with a slender crescent moon on May 18 will be very pleasing to see.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
No one was bowing down and handing them the World Series trophy just for that, just like no one should write them off because of a bad stretch of games.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
As the Timberwolves departed off the team bus in San Antonio on Sunday ahead of Game 1, there was Donte DiVincenzo, crutching his way off the steps before handing those off to hop onto his scooter.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Saturday, April 25, Banderas, 65, and Griffith, 68, were spotted leaving Beverly Hills sushi restaurant Matsuhisa arm-in-arm after enjoying dinner together.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Taking away rights, limiting the ability of non-whites to vote and enacting laws that divert government funds into their own pockets.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
-
An interim report from the Royal Commission released in April, which examined the capacity of Australian law enforcement and the security services to respond to antisemitic crimes, recommended that Australia’s leaders prioritize enacting nationally consistent gun laws and a weapons buyback.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Maybe crushes were happening, maybe not; none of my business.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
This story isn’t a far walk from what’s happening in Hollywood and the wider world.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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