passed; passing; passes
2
3
a
: to move in a path so as to approach and continue beyond something : move past
especially
: to move past another vehicle going in the same direction
glowered at the other driver as we passed
b
: to run the normal course
—used of time or a period of time
the hours pass quickly
4
a
: to go or make one's way through
allow no one to pass
b
: to go uncensured, unchallenged, or seemingly unnoticed
let the remark pass
5
: to go from one quality, state, or form to another
passes from a liquid to a gaseous state
6
a
: to sit in inquest (see inquest sense 1) or judgment
b(1)
: to render a decision, verdict, or opinion
the court passed on the legality of wiretapping
(2)
: to become legally rendered
judgment passed for the plaintiff
7
: to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
the throne passed to the king's son
title passes to the buyer upon payment in full
8
9
a
: to become approved by a legislature or body empowered to sanction or reject
the proposal passed
b
: to undergo an inspection, test, or course of study successfully
took the examination and passed
10
a
: to serve as a medium of exchange
b
: to be accepted or regarded
drivel that passes for literature
c
: to identify oneself or be identified as something one is not
tried to pass as an adult
Mom could pass as my sister
11
a
obsolete
: to make a pass (see pass entry 3 sense 5) in fencing
b
: to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate
—often used with off
took the ball and quickly passed off to a teammate
12
a(1)
: to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game
Her bridge partner passed.
(2)
: to withdraw from the current poker pot
b
: to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
thanks for the offer, but I'll pass
—often used with onpassed on the cheesecake
1
2
3
4
a
: to secure the approval of
the bill passed the Senate
b
: to cause or permit to win approval or legal or official sanction
pass a law
c
: to give approval or a passing grade to
pass the students
5
6
a
: pledge
had passed his word that he would repay the debt
b
: to transfer the right to or property in
pass title to a house
7
a
: to put in circulation
pass bad checks
b(1)
: to transfer or transmit from one to another
pass the salt
passing the savings on to customers
(2)
: to relay or communicate (something, such as information) to another
c
: to cause or enable to go : transport
waited till the soldiers and wounded were all passed over—
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
d
: to throw or hit (a ball or puck) especially to a teammate
—often used with off
passed the ball off to his teammate
8
a
: to pronounce (something, such as a sentence or opinion) especially judicially
passed sentence on the convicted man
b
: utter
passed a cutting remark
9
a
: to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier
passed the detectives to view the crime scene
b
: to move or cause to move in a particular manner or direction
passed my hand over my face
pass the rope through the loop
c
: to cause to march or go by in order
pass the troops in review
10
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially the bowels
11
a
: to give a base on balls to
passed two batters
b
: to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (such as tennis)
passer
noun
1
: a means (such as an opening, road, or channel) by which a barrier may be passed or access to a place may be gained
especially
: a low place in a mountain range
2
: a position to be held usually against odds
plural passes
1
: realization
brought his dream to pass
3
: a usually distressing or bad state of affairs
what has brought you to such a pass?
4
a
: a written permission to move about freely in a place or to leave or enter it
b
: a written leave of absence from a military post or station for a brief period
c
: a permit or ticket allowing free transportation or free admission
5
archaic
: a thrust or lunge in fencing
6
a
: a transference of objects by sleight of hand or other deceptive means
b
: a moving of the hands over or along something
7
archaic
: an ingenious sally (as of wit)
8
: the passing of an examination or course of study
also
: the mark or certification of such passing
9
: a single complete mechanical operation
also
: a single complete cycle of operations (as for processing, manufacturing, or printing)
10
a(1)
: a transfer of a ball or a puck from one player to another on the same team
(2)
: a ball or puck so transferred
b
11
12
a
: an instance of letting something (such as an offer or opportunity) go by without accepting or taking advantage of it
Jackson toured the place with top designers, and execs looked over his … toy that resembled an animal. Mattel took a pass [=turned down the offer] and Jackson took the rejection well.—Pamela Lansden
Pamela LansdenPresident Donald Trump is expected to take a pass on handing out this year's National Teacher of the Year award honors—forgoing a tradition that dates to President Harry Truman.—Kimberly Hefling
Kimberly Hefling
b
: an election not to bid, bet, or draw an additional card in a card game
13
: a throw of dice in the game of craps that wins the bet for the shooter compare crap entry 3 sense 2, missout
14
: a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
16
: pase
Synonyms
Examples of pass in a Sentence
Verb
The boat was too tall to pass beneath the bridge.
A flock of geese were passing overhead.
They pass the library every morning on their way to school.
The ships passed each other in the night.
We passed each other in the hallway without looking up.
She passed two other runners just before the finish line.
He passed the slower cars on the highway.
The drug passes quickly into the bloodstream.
In a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
The airplane passed out of sight.
Noun (1)
a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter
take the second pass on the right
Noun (2)
a pass to leave the military base for the weekend
a final pass at the assignment
eventually, all their career goals came to pass
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Sometime later, a passing pipeline company worker pulled the vehicle from the ditch.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
All Nix has done over the last seven games is connect on 69% of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns and two picks.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass 
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.
Verb
Since your hand is a minimum and an 11-trick club game is far away, pass.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Sometime later, a passing pipeline company worker pulled the vehicle from the ditch.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
Writer Nick Hornby, hot off About a Boy, had taken an unsuccessful early pass at a draft.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
All Nix has done over the last seven games is connect on 69% of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns and two picks.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pass
Dictionary Entries Near pass
Cite this Entry
“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pass
1 of 3 verb2
a
: to go away
the pain will soon pass
b
: die entry 1 sense 1
—often used with on
3
: to go by or beyond or move past
4
: to go or allow to go across, over, or through
let no one pass
5
: to change or transfer ownership or possession
recipes passed down through the family
6
7
a
: to gain the approval of a legislative body
the bill passed both houses
b
: to approve officially
pass a new law
8
: to go or allow to go through an examination or course of study successfully
passed my French course
9
: to cause to be considered
passed for an expert
10
: to transfer or become transferred from one person to another
pass the butter
pass a football
11
: to decide not to bid, bet, or draw in a card game
12
: to cause or permit to elapse : spend
pass time
13
: to state judicially
pass sentence
passer
noun
pass
2 of 3 noun1
2
: a gap in a mountain range
pass
3 of 3 noun1
: the act or an instance of passing : passage
2
: accomplishment sense 1, realization
—used in the phrases come to pass and bring to pass
3
: situation sense 3, condition
have come to a strange pass
4
: a written permission to enter or leave or to move about freely
a soldier's three-day pass
5
: a moving of the hands over or along something
6
: a transfer of a ball or puck from one player to another
especially
: forward pass
7
8
: an act of passing in a card game
9
: effort sense 2, try
make a pass at it
Medical Definition
pass
transitive verb
: to emit or discharge from a bodily part and especially from the bowels : evacuate sense 2, void
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