1
pass
/ˈpæs/
Brit
/ˈpɑːs/
verb
passes;
passed;
passing
passes;
passed;
passing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PASS
1
a
:
to move past someone or something
[no object]
-
The boat was too tall to pass beneath/under the bridge.
-
A flock of geese were passing overhead.
-
Stand here and don't let anyone pass. [=move past you]
—
often + by
[+ object]
-
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.
—
often + by
b
:
to move past someone or something that is moving more slowly in the same direction
[no object]
[+ object]
2
always followed by an adverb or preposition
a
[no object]
:
to move or go into or through a particular place
-
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.
—
often + through
-
Fear and panic passed through the crowd.
-
A river passes through the middle of the city.
-
Millions of tourists pass through the museum every year.
-
The paper passes through the fax machine and comes out the other end.
-
The bullet passed through his shoulder.
-
We passed through Texas on our way to Mexico.
-
We're just passing through. [=staying here for a very short time]
b
[+ object]
:
to cause (something) to move or go in a specified way
3
[+ object]
:
to give (something) to someone using your hands
-
She passed the baby back to his mother.
-
Would you please pass the salt?
-
Pass [=hand] me the butter, please.
-
They started passing around pictures of their trip.
-
Take one sheet and pass the rest down/on/along. [=take one sheet and give the rest to the next person]
-
Can you pass that screwdriver over to me?
4
sports
:
to throw, hit, or kick a ball or puck to a teammate
[+ object]
[no object]
5
[+ object]
a
:
to cause someone to have or be affected by (something that you have had or been affected by)
—
often + on
-
She contracted the disease and passed it on to her child.
-
Gas prices have risen, forcing companies to pass the cost on to the consumer.
-
We lowered our costs and are now able to pass on the savings to our customers.
—
sometimes + along
b
:
to give (information) to another person
—
often + on
—
often + along
-
They quickly passed the word along that the meeting was postponed.
-
He told me about it, and now I'm passing it along to you.
6
[no object]
a
:
to go from one person to another person
b
:
to be given to someone especially according to a law, rule, etc.
-
The throne passed to the king's son.
-
Ownership passes to the buyer upon payment in full.
-
After her death, the house passed into the hands of her granddaughter. [=her granddaughter became the owner of the house]
7
of time
a
[no object]
:
to go by
-
Several months passed before I received a reply.
-
He became sleepy as the time passed.
-
The days pass quickly when you're on vacation.
-
Another day passed without any news about the whereabouts of their missing son.
b
[+ object]
:
to let (time or a period of time) go by especially while you are doing something enjoyable
-
He passes [=spends] his days reading and taking walks around the neighborhood.
-
They passed the evening playing cards.
-
We played games to pass the time on the bus.
-
I walked over to my neighbor's house to pass the time of day. [=to have a friendly and informal conversation]
8
[no object]
a
:
to happen or take place
—
often + between
b
:
to end or go away
-
She couldn't let the moment pass (away) without saying something.
-
This crisis will soon pass. [=will soon be over]
-
A storm had just passed.
-
They waited until it was clear that the danger had passed.
-
They were happy once, but that time has passed. [=that time is over]
-
The era of the traveling salesman has passed into history. [=traveling salesmen no longer exist]
9
[no object]
:
to be done, said, etc., without producing a response
-
I disagreed with what he said, but I let it pass. [=I did not say anything in response to his remark]
-
She let his remark pass without comment.
10
[no object]
a
:
to not take, accept, or use something that is offered to you
—
often + on
b
:
to decide not to do something at a particular point in a game (such as a card game) when it is your turn
11
a
:
to complete (a test, class, etc.) successfully
[+ object]
-
He failed his driver's test the first time he took it, but he passed it the second time.
-
I almost didn't pass my French class this semester.
[no object]
b
[+ object]
:
to decide that (someone) has passed an examination or course of study
12
a
[+ object]
:
to officially approve (a law, bill, etc.)
-
Congress passed a law banning the sale of automatic rifles.
-
The measure was passed by both the House and the Senate.
-
We've been trying to get this legislation passed for several months now.
b
chiefly US
:
to become approved by (a legislature)
[+ object]
[no object]
13
[+ object]
formal
:
to say or state (something) especially in an official way
-
Before passing sentence [=announcing the punishment], the judge commented on the seriousness of the crime.
-
The court is now ready to pass judgment.
-
It would be premature to pass judgment on [=to state an opinion on] his place in history.
-
Don't pass judgment on me [=don't criticize me] until you know all the facts.
14
[+ object]
:
to go beyond (a number or amount)
—
usually used with mark
-
It's an extremely successful movie that has just passed [=exceeded, surpassed] the $100 million mark. [=it has earned more than $100 million]
-
I've passed the half-century mark. [=I am over 50 years old]
15
[no object]
:
to change from one state or form to another
16
[no object]
:
to be good enough
:
to be adequate
17
[+ object]
:
to illegally use (checks, bills, etc., with no real value) as money
18
[+ object]
:
to have (something) come out from your body
—
see also pass gas at 1gas, pass water at 1water
19
[no object]
:
to die
—
used as a polite way to avoid saying the word “die”
—
see also pass away, pass on (below)
pass as
[phrasal verb]
1
pass as (someone or something)
:
to cause people to believe that you are (someone or something that you are not)
2
pass as (something)
:
to be accepted or regarded as (something)
pass away
[phrasal verb]
:
to die
—
used as a polite way to avoid saying the word “die”
pass by
[phrasal verb]
pass (someone) by
:
to happen without being noticed or acted upon by (someone)
—
see also 1pass 1a (above)
pass down
[phrasal verb]
pass (something) down
or
pass down (something)
:
to give (something) to a younger person especially within the same family
-
She will pass down her diamond ring to her niece.
-
It's a family recipe passed down [=handed down] from my great-grandmother.
-
The painting is a family heirloom that has been passed down through the generations.
pass for
[phrasal verb]
pass for (something)
:
to be accepted or regarded as (something)
-
I can't believe the garbage that's passing for [=passing as] art these days.
-
the tasteless soup that was supposed to pass for our dinner
-
What passes for entertainment around here?
pass in
[phrasal verb]
pass (something) in
or
pass in (something)
:
to give (something) to a person who will review it
pass off
[phrasal verb]
1
pass (someone or something) off as (someone or something)
or
pass off (someone or something) as (someone or something)
:
to cause people to wrongly believe that someone or something is someone or something else
-
amateurs passing themselves off as professionals
-
He managed to pass himself off as the son of the famous actor.
-
She passed the poem off as her own.
-
They tried to pass it off as an original painting, but I suspected it was a copy.
-
a cheap piece of glass passed off as a diamond
2
British
:
to happen or take place in a particular way
pass on
[phrasal verb]
:
to die
—
used as a polite way to avoid saying the word “die”
pass out
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to fall asleep or become unconscious
-
They both passed out in front of the TV.
-
I felt like I was going to pass out from exhaustion.
-
He drank until he passed out.
-
Someone was passed out on the floor. [=someone was lying unconscious on the floor]
2
pass out (something)
or
pass (something) out
:
to give (something) to several or many people
-
They passed out [=handed out, distributed] copies of the newsletter.
-
The teacher hasn't finished passing out the tests yet.
-
She passed out flyers at the grocery store.
pass over
[phrasal verb]
1
pass over (someone)
or
pass (someone) over
:
to not choose (someone) for a job, position, etc.
-
When it came time to select the recipient of the award, the committee once again passed him over. [=the committee did not give him an award]
-
The quarterback was passed over by other teams.
—
often + for
2
pass over (something)
or
pass (something) over
:
to leave out (something)
:
to not discuss or deal with (something)
pass the buck
—
see 1buck
pass up
[phrasal verb]
pass up (something)
or
pass (something) up
:
to not take or accept (something that is offered to you)
pass your lips
1
of words
:
to come out of your mouth
:
to be spoken
2
of food or drink
:
to go into your mouth
:
to be eaten or drunk
2
pass
/ˈpæs/
Brit
/ˈpɑːs/
noun
plural
passes
2
pass
/ˈpæs/
Brit
/ˈpɑːs/
noun
plural
passes
Britannica Dictionary definition of PASS
[count]
1
sports
:
an act of throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball or puck to a teammate
-
throwing/making/completing a perfect pass to a teammate
-
a forward pass
-
He caught a 20-yard pass from Johnson.
-
The quarterback threw two touchdown passes in the first half of the game.
—
see also bounce pass, screen pass, shovel pass
2
:
a card or ticket which shows that you are allowed to enter or leave a particular place or to ride a vehicle
-
a one-day/weekend/season pass to the amusement park
-
Each new student will be given a bus pass. [=a ticket that permits you to ride the bus]
-
We won backstage passes [=cards that allow you to go behind the stage] for tonight's concert.
-
(US) You have to get a hall pass [=a card that shows you have permission to be out of class during class time] from the teacher.
—
see also boarding pass
3
:
a single, complete set of actions that are done together as a stage in a process
-
The machine is able to print on both sides in a single pass.
-
I did another pass to check for any spelling mistakes in my essay.
-
The error was discovered in the next pass through the data.
4
:
an act of moving over a place
5
chiefly British
:
a grade which shows that you have passed a test or class
make a pass at
:
to do or say something that clearly shows you want to begin a romantic or sexual relationship with (someone)
3
pass
/ˈpæs/
Brit
/ˈpɑːs/
noun
plural
passes
3
pass
/ˈpæs/
Brit
/ˈpɑːs/
noun
plural
passes
Britannica Dictionary definition of PASS
1
[count]
:
a low place in a mountain range where a road or path goes through
2
[singular]
somewhat formal
:
a usually bad situation or condition