pass

¹pass

verb \ˈpas\

Definition of PASS

intransitive verb

1

: move, proceed, go

2

a : to go away : depart b : die —often used with on

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 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 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

a : happen, occur b : to take place or be exchanged as or in a social, personal, or business interaction <words passed>

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

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 in fencing b : to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate —often used with off

12

a (1) : to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game (2) : to withdraw from the current poker pot b : to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it —often used with on <passed on the cheesecake> <thanks for the offer, but I'll pass>

transitive verb

1

: to go beyond: as a : surpass, exceed <passes all expectations> b : to advance or develop beyond c : to go past (one moving in the same direction)

2

a : to go by : proceed or extend beyond <pass the school on their way to work> b (1) obsolete : neglect, omit (2) : to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)

3

a : to go across, over, or through : cross b : to live through (as an experience or peril) : undergo c : to go through (as a test) successfully

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

a : to let (as time or a period of time) go by especially while involved in a leisure activity <I'll read to pass the time> b : to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard

6

a : pledge 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 (as information) to another c : to cause or enable to go : transport d : to throw or hit (a ball or puck) especially to a teammate

8

a : to pronounce (as a sentence or opinion) especially judicially b : utter <passed a cutting remark>

9

a : to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier 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 b : to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (as tennis)

— pass·er noun

— pass muster

: to gain approval or acceptance

— pass the buck

: to shift a responsibility to someone else

— pass the hat

: to take up a collection for money

— pass the time of day

: to exchange greetings or engage in pleasant conversation

Examples of PASS

1. The boat was too tall to pass beneath the bridge.
2. A flock of geese were passing overhead.
3. They pass the library every morning on their way to school.
4. The ships passed each other in the night.
5. We passed each other in the hallway without looking up.
6. She passed two other runners just before the finish line.
7. He passed the slower cars on the highway.
8. The drug passes quickly into the bloodstream.
9. In a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
10. The airplane passed out of sight.

Origin of PASS

Middle English, from Anglo-French passer, from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus step — more at pace

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PASS

Synonyms: buck, hand, hand over, reach, transfer

Antonyms: continue, hang on, persist

Related Words: relay; bear, carry; finger, handle, paw; cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

Near Antonyms: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with PASS

ass, bass, brass, class, crass, frass, gas, glass, grass, lass, mass, sass, strass, tasse, vas, wrasse