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
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2025
He has also been tasked with elevating a passing game that has frequently been without its top two receivers, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Diane Keaton's official death certificate is shedding new light on the actress's passing.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
After passing, the trio got the rights back and looked to the Sundance Network.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
Through the air, the Cowboys have given up the most passing yards and touchdowns of any team in the league.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2025
He has also been tasked with elevating a passing game that has frequently been without its top two receivers, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
Flacco had arguably his best game in years, going 31 of 47 with 342 passing yards and three touchdowns.
—Tyler Geis, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Diane Keaton's official death certificate is shedding new light on the actress's passing.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Restaurants reopen after passing a callback inspection, a re-inspection that usually occurs the next day.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
After passing, the trio got the rights back and looked to the Sundance Network.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
What To Know A map shared by the NWS on Facebook showed a broad corridor of flash-flood risk spanning the Western states and Southern Plains.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Alison Catlow, a coroner’s officer for Greater Manchester police, told the inquest Hatton had last been seen by his family two days before his death.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In 2024, 221 deer crashes involved a motorcycle, resulting in seven deaths and 87 serious injuries.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
At the very least, a major influx of new cast members are bound to shake up the series third season, which will pick after the dramatic killing of a beloved character, the arrest of another, and the breakup between two more.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The King very recently joked about his age during a visit to officially open the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Interspliced are shots of him hauling up oyster cages, sliding a knife into an oyster to shuck it, handing a fresh oyster to a little girl.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Companies are essentially handing leaders technical training and telling them to figure it out.—
Heather Conklin,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The metro Detroit rallies have advocated for causes including stopping immigration crackdowns, stopping authoritarianism, health care, maintaining a positive relationship with Canada amid tariffs, declaring Detroit a sanctuary city, stopping deaths in Gaza and more.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Nihi has 25 of Sumba’s beloved sandalwood horses, released from their stable once a day to run free through the shallows, stopping to roll around in the sand and nip at each other.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Eleven of 19 batters struck out against Glasnow and hard-throwing Milwaukee rookie Jacob Misiorowski in the third, fourth and fifth innings with just one baserunner (on a walk), leaving the game locked in a 1-1 tie until the Dodgers put something together in the sixth.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
-
And then the project fell apart, leaving Shackleton with fragments of the unfinished film and time to ruminate on shortcuts and signifiers of the ubiquitous genre.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
State law bars cities, counties and other local governments from enacting their own gun, stricter regulations.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In a dressing room, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end concentrates while practicing carrying his then-girlfriend during the Tortured Poets Department section of the three-hour show, with the scene cutting to the couple re-enacting it in full costume on stage.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s been a misguided assertion that what’s happening with ICE is only a Latino issue, but ICE’s bombardment of both Black and Brown communities in Chicago demonstrates otherwise.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Have those conversations started about the possibility of those films still happening or not?—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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