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
Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The numbers have followed Parker as well, as his secondary has been a part of a top-eight passing defense in three of the past five seasons, including the Eagles giving up the fewest passing yards in the NFL in their 2024 Super Bowl season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026
Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
His 3,978 passing yards were second in the nation in the regular season and third including the playoffs.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Healey caught heavy criticism last week for utilizing the rate deferrals and passing the costs back on to the ratepayers.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
The Rams didn’t have an answer for him in the passing game.
—Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The numbers have followed Parker as well, as his secondary has been a part of a top-eight passing defense in three of the past five seasons, including the Eagles giving up the fewest passing yards in the NFL in their 2024 Super Bowl season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Now, over a year after her passing, her family keeps her memory alive.
—Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
His 3,978 passing yards were second in the nation in the regular season and third including the playoffs.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
In competition over a three-year span, their passing accuracy also rose 7% relative to a control group of players.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Healey caught heavy criticism last week for utilizing the rate deferrals and passing the costs back on to the ratepayers.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
To hear top analyst Tom Lee, of Fundstrat, describe the situation, farming never recovered from the invention of flash-frozen foods in the 1920s.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The preliminary cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
He was condemned for the April 1998 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Glenda Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, at the woman's suburban Houston apartment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Another very important component of any AI law is the jurisdictional scope.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
At the very least, legislatures need to address the impact of data centers and complete their work on the risks of AI bias.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An attack on Greenland would shatter NATO, handing a strategic victory to Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as the world's most successful defensive alliance collapses.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In the 40th minute, Evan Vaden buried a header into the top left corner of the net off an excellent ball from Lucas Petersen, handing Mission Bay a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.—
Clark Fahrenthold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The controversy began at the end of a planning and zoning meeting last Thursday, when the council member raised concerns about Border Patrol agents stopping people in the community.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
States such as Minnesota should also look to civil law as a basis for stopping baleful and unlawful ICE tactics.—
Aziz Huq,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens under the cover of darkness, essentially leaving the entirety of the franchise in the city.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Indian markets are under pressure across assets, with stocks, the rupee and bonds all weakening, leaving investors banking on the budget to reset sentiment.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officials in India are enacting precautions to prevent further spread of the virus, with quarantine and surveillance measures in place.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Officials in India are enacting precautions to prevent further spread of the virus, with quarantine and surveillance measures in place.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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