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
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of passing
Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Acosta will be a passing and running force again, and the Cougars defense will shine.
—Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 11 Sep. 2024
Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
Eleven different collections by the producer—as an artist, that is—have returned to the 200-spot list since his passing was shared with the world.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024
The news of John Amos‘ passing was announced earlier this week, shocking many many fans, colleagues, and even his own family members.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passing 
Adjective
But in the cacophony of a campaign in its final week, the tempest over endorsements felt like a holdover from a passing era of mass media consumption.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Acosta will be a passing and running force again, and the Cougars defense will shine.
—Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 11 Sep. 2024
Noun
Elsewhere on the chart, the resurgence of One Direction continues following the passing of Liam Payne.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
Eleven different collections by the producer—as an artist, that is—have returned to the 200-spot list since his passing was shared with the world.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The girl said her pass of the tanker began in a passing zone, although a no-passing sign appears in the video.
—CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024
The news of John Amos‘ passing was announced earlier this week, shocking many many fans, colleagues, and even his own family members.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
-
Residents who live near the intersection where the accident occurred said the flash mobs of street takeovers have become weekly occurrences in their neighborhood.Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022
Noun
-
Another 27 people remain at large and charges have been dropped against 7 people due to their deaths.Abbas Al Lawati, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The Gonzales family has filed a civil suit against the city of Austin. Elizabeth Gonzales, the victim's mother, urged for more transparency in the investigation into her son’s death.Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Adverb
-
On the grill: Believe it or not, grilling is a very healthy way to cook meat.Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The tutorials are very informative, and produce real-world results like illuminating an LED, activating a buzzer, and other fun projects).Bob Beacham, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
After handing Common the award, the two shared a kiss, prompting cheers in the studio.Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
-
Clampdown on press freedom in Cambodia Rights groups say Cambodia’s once thriving media sector has been decimated in recent years by former strongman Hun Sen, who ruled the country for more than three decades before handing power to his eldest son Hun Manet in 2022.Helen Regan, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
According to the Latin Recording Academy, more than 30 artists took the stage to deliver show-stopping tributes honoring the memories of key figures who made great contributions to Latin music.Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
-
Opposing productivity means stopping progress.William Dunkelberg, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
The flooding swept away 11 of the plastics facility’s employees, leaving two of them confirmed dead and four still missing, The Associated Press reported.Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
-
Vikings-Jets Three undefeated teams lost last week leaving the Vikings and Chiefs remaining at 4-0.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Opponents of the law also pointed out that the data didn’t show a link between enacting the Raise the Age legislation and a surge in violent crime.ProPublica, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2024
-
On the other hand, the Arizona legislature has made our state only one of seven that prohibit local governments from enacting mandatory inclusionary zoning on housing that would be rented or sold at an affordable rate.Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
There's a lot of good, good things happening at this club.Asif Burhan, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
-
To sample is to lift an existing sound recording and place that into another sound recording, which isn’t what’s happening here.Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near passing
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share