1
: going by or past
a passing pedestrian
2
: having a brief duration
a passing whim
3
obsolete
: surpassing
4
: superficial
a passing acquaintance
a passing resemblance
5
a
: of, relating to, or used in or for the act or process of passing
passing lanes
b
: given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
a passing grade
: to a surpassing degree : exceedingly
passing strange
Examples of passing in a Sentence
Noun
After her husband's passing, she moved to a smaller house.
We all mourned his passing.
Adjective
Someone called out from a passing car.
She sells flowers to passing motorists.
Let's hope that these shoes are just a passing fad.
a passing phase in childhood
Adverb
a passing strange turn of events
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
The Factbook's demise drew immediate concern from people who frequently rely on it for their work, as Reddit groups for teachers, librarians and travel agents mourned its passing.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Mike Darnay, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
A race against time continues As Nancy Guthrie’s health complications make every passing day more dire, investigators are throwing their full weight behind locating her.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
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Noun
The Breakers’ girls water polo team used cross passing, mobility on defense and positioning in transition to defeat Sunny Hills 14-8 in a CIF-SS Division 1 first round match at El Toro High.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
The Factbook's demise drew immediate concern from people who frequently rely on it for their work, as Reddit groups for teachers, librarians and travel agents mourned its passing.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Brian Angelichio has spent the last four seasons as the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
A race against time continues As Nancy Guthrie’s health complications make every passing day more dire, investigators are throwing their full weight behind locating her.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passing. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
passing
1 of 2 noun
pass·ing
ˈpas-iŋ 
1
: the act of one that passes or causes to pass
2
passing
2 of 2 adjective1
: going by or past
the passing crowd
2
: lasting only for a short time
3
: used for the act or process of passing
the passing lane
4
: given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
a passing grade
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