pass 1 of 3

verb

ˈpas How to pronounce pass (audio)
Definition of passnext
1
as in to hand
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another could you please pass me the phone?

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2
as in to stop
to come to an end eventually, the storm passed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to leave
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out

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4
as in to enact
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech

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5
as in to happen
to take place and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted

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6
as in to undergo
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

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7
as in to say
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

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8
as in to refuse
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

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9
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

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pass

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter

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2
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel take the second pass on the right

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pass

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in ticket
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) a pass to leave the military base for the weekend

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2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something a final pass at the assignment

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3
as in realization
the state of being actual or complete eventually, all their career goals came to pass

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 pass
Verb
Vessel traffic, however, remains far below prewar averages, when 20% of the world’s oil would pass through the waterway. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 That rapid response helped reduce the risk of temporary flash blindness and retinal burns while allowing pilots to regain outside visibility once the flash had passed. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The rookie has developed phenomenal chemistry with Willis despite not even being one of the pass-catchers that met with Miami’s new signal-caller at his throwing sessions in Jacksonville before training camp. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 During 11-on-11 drills, Klubnik completed a 50-plus-yard touchdown pass to Arian Smith. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pass
  1. hand
  2. stop
  3. leave
  4. enact
  5. happen
  6. undergo
  7. say
  8. refuse
Verb
  • Osorio said he was handed the baby, a boy, and gave him to a police officer, who took him to an ambulance.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Arizona Cardinals released him this offseason and handed their starting job to Jacoby Brissett, Murray's former backup.
    — Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hand
Verb
  • The aid workers who once regularly visited her village to help pregnant women had stopped coming, after foreign aid cuts by the United States shuttered a program aimed at saving mothers’ and babies’ lives.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • WireImage Three days after Jeongyeon became the first TWICE member to leave JYP Entertainment in the group’s eleven-year history, Chaeyoung has announced her own departure.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities are searching for the driver of a van who struck a man in a wheelchair in Dania Beach and fled the scene, leaving the victim injured and his wheelchair damaged.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • Jim Zouras, a Chicago attorney who’s represented people in hundreds of Illinois privacy lawsuits, said the state has constructed many new data centers since enacting its privacy laws.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • After the 2023 mall shooting, Anutin, who was interior minister at the time, enacted a one-year ban on the issue of new personal gun licenses and suspended public carry permits, among other gun control measures.
    — Nat Sumon, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of enact
Verb
  • And this is one of those things that flags my lack of comprehension of most things happening in my midst.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There’s no need to theorize about what happened here because the obvious answer is Bret Easton Ellis signed off on the first two episodes and then abandoned the adaptation.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of happen
Verb
  • Tommy John, the former New York Yankees pitcher who first underwent the elbow surgery that has been used to further the careers of players for decades, released a statement to fans as the franchise celebrated Old-Timers’ Day on Saturday.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • If the loss wasn’t enough, catcher Daniel Susac underwent an X-ray and was diagnosed with a left knee contusion, per manager Tony Vitello.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • Editor Chris McCaleb said that openness shaped how the entire series was built in post.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Walker says his company’s jet card program is an important tool in driving charter hours for aircraft owners.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of say
Verb
  • But the other main parties called it a stunt and refused to take part, leaving Farage running against an assortment of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of refuse

Phrases Containing pass

Browse Nearby Words

pasquinading
pass
passable
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Cite this Entry

“Pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pass. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pass

Nglish: Translation of pass for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pass

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