to move past; go by: to pass another car on the road.
2.
to let go without notice, action, remark, etc.; leave unconsidered; disregard; overlook: Pass chapter two and go on to chapter three.
3.
to omit the usual or regular payment of: The company decided to pass its dividend in the third quarter of the year.
4.
to cause or allow to go through or beyond a gate, barrier, etc.: The guard checked the identification papers and then passed the visitor.
5.
to go across or over (a stream, threshold, etc.); cross.
6.
to endure or undergo: They passed the worst night of their lives.
7.
to undergo or complete successfully: to pass an examination.
8.
to cause or permit to complete successfully (an investigation, examination, course of study, etc.): I am passing the whole class this term.
9.
to go beyond (a point, degree, stage, etc.); transcend; exceed; surpass.
10.
to cause to go or extend farther: to pass a rope through a hole.
11.
to cause to go, move, or march by: to pass troops in review.
12.
to allot to oneself (a portion of time); spend: He decided to pass a year abroad.
13.
to live through, utilize, or fill; occupy oneself during: How to pass the time?
14.
to cause to circulate or spread; disseminate: to pass rumors.
15.
to cause to be accepted or received: to pass a worthless check.
16.
to convey, transfer, or transmit; deliver (often fol. by on): Pass this memo on after reading it.
17.
to convey from one person, hand, etc., to another: Please pass the salt.
18.
to pledge: to pass one's word of honor to remain loyal.
19.
to utter, pronounce, or speak: She passed a remark about every passerby.
20.
to cause to go through something, as a process or agency: to pass returning travelers through customs.
21.
to discharge or void from the body, as excrement or a kidney stone.
22.
to sanction or approve, esp. by vote: Congress passed the bill.
23.
to obtain the approval or sanction of (a legislative body, committee, etc.), esp. by a vote: The bill passed Congress on the second vote.
24.
to express or pronounce, as an opinion: to pass judgment without knowing the facts.
25.
Law. to place legal title or interest in (another) by a conveyance, a will, or other transfer.
26.
(in feats of magic) to perform a pass on.
27.
Tennis. to make a passing shot against (an opponent).
28.
Sports. to transfer (the ball or puck) to a teammate.
29.
Bullfighting. (of a bullfighter) to provoke and guide the charge of (a bull) with the capa or esp. the muleta.
–verb (used without object)
30.
to go or move onward; proceed.
31.
to come to or toward, then go beyond: to pass by a shop; to pass through town.
32.
to go away; depart: The dizzy feeling will pass in a minute.
33.
to elapse or slip by; be spent: The day passed very quickly for him.
34.
to come to an end: The crisis soon passed.
35.
to die.
36.
to take place; happen; occur: What passed while I was on vacation?
37.
to go by or move past: The funeral procession passed slowly.
38.
to go about or circulate; be current.
39.
to serve as a marginally acceptable substitute: The facsimile isn't very good but it will pass.
40.
to live or be known as a member of a racial, religious, or ethnic group other than one's own, esp. to live and be known as a white person although of black ancestry.
41.
to be transferred or conveyed: The crown passed to the king's nephew.
42.
to be interchanged, as between two persons: Sharp words passed between them.
43.
to undergo transition or conversion: to pass from a solid to a liquid state.
44.
to go or get through a barrier, test, course of study, etc., successfully: Of the twenty who took the exam, only twelve passed.
45.
to go unheeded, unchallenged, or unremarked on: He decided to let the insult pass.
46.
to express or pronounce an opinion, judgment, verdict, etc. (usually fol. by on or upon): Will you pass on the authenticity of this drawing?
47.
to be voided, as excrement or a kidney stone.
48.
to obtain the vote of approval or sanction of a legislative body, official committee, or the like: The new tax bill finally passed.
49.
Law.
a.
(of a member of an inquest or other deliberative body) to sit (usually fol. by on or upon): to pass on a case of manslaughter.
b.
to adjudicate.
c.
to vest title or other legal interest in real or personal property in a new owner.
50.
to throw a ball from one person to another, as in a game of catch.
51.
Sports. to make a pass, as in football or ice hockey.
52.
Cards.
a.
to forgo one's opportunity to bid, play, etc.
b.
to throw in one's hand.
53.
FencingObsolete. to thrust or lunge.
–noun
54.
an act of passing.
55.
a narrow route across a relatively low notch or depression in a mountain barrier.
56.
a road, channel, or other way providing a means of passage, as through an obstructed region or other barrier.
57.
a navigable channel, as at the mouth or in the delta of a river.
58.
a permission or license to pass, go, come, or enter.
59.
Military.
a.
a military document granting the right to cross lines or to enter or leave a military or naval base or building.
b.
written authority given a soldier to leave a station or duty for a specified period of time.
60.
a free ticket or permit: two passes to a concert; a railroad pass.
a single movement, effort, maneuver, etc.: He made a pass at the control tower of the enemy airfield.
67.
Informal.
a.
a gesture, action, or remark that is intended to be sexually inviting; amorous overture.
b.
a jab or poke with the arm, esp. one that misses its mark.
68.
Cards. the act or statement of not bidding or raising another bid: There have been two passes and now it's your bid.
69.
(in feats of magic)
a.
a passing of the hand over, along, or before anything.
b.
the transference or changing of objects by or as by sleight of hand; a manipulation, as of a juggler.
70.
a particular stage or state of affairs: The economic situation had come to a dreadful pass.
71.
Bullfighting. a pase.
72.
one passage of a tool over work or one passage of work through a machine.
73.
Archaic. a witty remark or thrust.
74.
Mining. an opening for delivering coal or ore to a lower level underground.
—Verb phrases
75.
pass along or through, to add (incurred extra costs or expenses) to the amount charged a client or customer: Airlines were passing along the sudden increase in fuel prices.
76.
pass away,
a.
to cease; end: All this trouble will pass away.
b.
to die: He passed away during the night.
77.
pass for, to be accepted as; be considered: material that passed for silk.
78.
pass off,
a.
to present or offer (something) under false pretenses; dispose of deceptively: to pass off a spurious de Kooning on a gullible buyer.
b.
to cause to be accepted or received under a false identity: He passed himself off as a doctor.
c.
to cease gradually; end: The headache passed off in the late afternoon.
d.
to disregard or ignore.
e.
to continue to completion; occur: The meeting passed off without incident.
79.
pass on, to die: The patient passed on after a long illness.
80.
pass over,
a.
to disregard; ignore: Just pass over the first part of his letter.
b.
to fail to take notice of or consider: He was passed over for the promotion.
81.
pass up, to refuse or neglect to take advantage of; reject: The opportunity may not come again, so don't pass it up.
—Idioms
82.
bring to pass, to cause to happen; bring about: His wife's death brought to pass a change in his attitude toward religion.
83.
come to pass, to occur; happen: Strange things came to pass.
to distribute, esp. individually by hand: to pass out discount coupons on a street corner.
d.
to walk or march out or through; leave or exit by means of: The graduates will pass out the center aisle after receiving their diplomas. Pass out this door and turn left.
e.
to be exempted or promoted from: Jerry passed out of freshman composition on the basis of his entering essay.
Origin: 1175–1225; (v.) ME passen < OF passer < VL *passāre, deriv. of L passus step, pace1; (n.) ME; in part < MF passe (n. deriv. of passer), in part n. deriv. of passen
To extend; run: The river passes through our land.
To move by: The band passed and the crowd cheered.
To move past another vehicle: The sports car passed on the right.
To be transferred from one to another; circulate: The wine passed around the table.
Sports To transfer a ball or puck to a teammate.
To be allowed to happen without notice or challenge: Let their rude remarks pass.
Sports & Games To decline one's turn to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
To decline an offer: When we offered him dessert, he passed.
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute: The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
To pronounce an opinion, judgment, or sentence.
To sit in adjudication.
To gain passage despite obstacles: pass through difficult years.
To move past in time; elapse: The days passed quickly.
To be transferred from one to another; circulate: The wine passed around the table.
Sports To transfer a ball or puck to a teammate.
To be allowed to happen without notice or challenge: Let their rude remarks pass.
Sports & Games To decline one's turn to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
To decline an offer: When we offered him dessert, he passed.
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute: The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
To pronounce an opinion, judgment, or sentence.
To sit in adjudication.
To be communicated or exchanged between persons: Loud words passed in the corridor.
To be transferred or conveyed to another by will or deed: The title passed to the older heir.
To undergo transition from one condition, form, quality, or characteristic to another: Daylight passed into darkness.
To come to an end: My anger suddenly passed. The headache finally passed.
To cease to exist; die. Often used with on:The patient passed on during the night.
To happen; take place: What passed during the day?
To be allowed to happen without notice or challenge: Let their rude remarks pass.
Sports & Games To decline one's turn to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
To decline an offer: When we offered him dessert, he passed.
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute: The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
To pronounce an opinion, judgment, or sentence.
To sit in adjudication.
To undergo an examination or a trial with favorable results.
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute: The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
To pronounce an opinion, judgment, or sentence.
To sit in adjudication.
To be approved or adopted: The motion to adjourn passed.
Law
To pronounce an opinion, judgment, or sentence.
To sit in adjudication.
To be voided: Luckily the kidney stone passed before she had to be hospitalized.
Sports To thrust or lunge in fencing.
v.
tr.
To go by without stopping; leave behind.
To go by without paying attention to; disregard or ignore: If you pass the new photographs in the collection, you'll miss some outstanding ones.
To fail to pay (a dividend).
To undergo (a trial or examination) with favorable results: She passed every test.
To cause or allow to go through a trial, test, or examination successfully: The instructor passed all the candidates.
To cause to move: We passed our hands over the fabric.
To cause to move into a certain position: pass a ribbon around a package.
To cause to move as part of a process: pass liquid through a filter.
To cause to go by: The sergeant passed his troops before the general and halted them at the grandstand.
Baseball To walk (a batter).
To maneuver (the bull) by means of a pase in bullfighting.
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate: They passed the news quickly.
To hand over to someone else: Please pass the bread.
Sports To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently: pass counterfeit money.
Law To transfer title or ownership of.
To approve; adopt: The legislature passed the bill.
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by: The bill passed the House of Representatives.
To go beyond; surpass: The inheritance passed my wildest dreams.
To go across; go through: We passed the border into Mexico.
To undergo (a trial or examination) with favorable results: She passed every test.
To cause or allow to go through a trial, test, or examination successfully: The instructor passed all the candidates.
To cause to move: We passed our hands over the fabric.
To cause to move into a certain position: pass a ribbon around a package.
To cause to move as part of a process: pass liquid through a filter.
To cause to go by: The sergeant passed his troops before the general and halted them at the grandstand.
Baseball To walk (a batter).
To maneuver (the bull) by means of a pase in bullfighting.
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate: They passed the news quickly.
To hand over to someone else: Please pass the bread.
Sports To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently: pass counterfeit money.
Law To transfer title or ownership of.
To approve; adopt: The legislature passed the bill.
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by: The bill passed the House of Representatives.
To cause to move: We passed our hands over the fabric.
To cause to move into a certain position: pass a ribbon around a package.
To cause to move as part of a process: pass liquid through a filter.
To cause to go by: The sergeant passed his troops before the general and halted them at the grandstand.
Baseball To walk (a batter).
To maneuver (the bull) by means of a pase in bullfighting.
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate: They passed the news quickly.
To hand over to someone else: Please pass the bread.
Sports To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently: pass counterfeit money.
Law To transfer title or ownership of.
To approve; adopt: The legislature passed the bill.
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by: The bill passed the House of Representatives.
To allow to go by or elapse; spend: He passed his winter in Vermont.
To allow to cross a barrier: The border guard passed the tourists.
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate: They passed the news quickly.
To hand over to someone else: Please pass the bread.
Sports To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently: pass counterfeit money.
Law To transfer title or ownership of.
To approve; adopt: The legislature passed the bill.
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by: The bill passed the House of Representatives.
To discharge (body waste, for example); void.
To approve; adopt: The legislature passed the bill.
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by: The bill passed the House of Representatives.
To pronounce; utter: pass judgment; pass sentence on an offender.
n.
The act of passing; passage.
A way, such as a narrow gap between mountains, that affords passage around, over, or through a barrier. See Synonyms at way.
A permit, ticket, or authorization to come and go at will.
A free ticket entitling one to transportation or admisssion.
Written leave of absence from military duty.
A sweep or run, as by an aircraft, over or toward an area or target.
A single complete cycle of operations, as by a machine or computer program.
Sports A transfer of a ball or puck between teammates.
Sports A lunge or thrust in fencing.
Baseball A base on balls.
A sweep or run, as by an aircraft, over or toward an area or target.
A single complete cycle of operations, as by a machine or computer program.
Sports A transfer of a ball or puck between teammates.
Sports A lunge or thrust in fencing.
Baseball A base on balls.
A condition or situation, often critical in nature; a predicament. See Synonyms at crisis.
A sexual invitation or overture.
A motion of the hand or the waving of a wand.
Sports A transfer of a ball or puck between teammates.
Sports A lunge or thrust in fencing.
Baseball A base on balls.
Sports & Games A refusal to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
Games A winning throw of the dice in craps.
A pase in bullfighting.
To pass out of existence; end.
To die.
To offer, sell, or put into circulation (an imitation) as genuine: pass off glass as a gemstone.
To present (one's self) as other than what one is: tried to pass himself off as a banker.
Phrasal Verb(s): pass away
To pass out of existence; end.
To die.
pass forTo be accepted as or believed to be: You could pass for a teenager. The fake painting passed for an original. pass off
To offer, sell, or put into circulation (an imitation) as genuine: pass off glass as a gemstone.
To present (one's self) as other than what one is: tried to pass himself off as a banker.
pass outTo lose consciousness. pass overTo leave out; disregard. pass up Informal To let go by; reject: pass up a chance for promotion; an opportunity too good to pass up.
Idiom(s):
bring to passTo cause to happen.
Idiom(s):
come to passTo occur.
Idiom(s):
pass musterTo pass an examination or inspection; measure up to a given standard.
Idiom(s):
pass (one's) lips
To be eaten or drunk.
To issue or be spoken: Rumors never passed her lips.
Idiom(s):
pass the hatTo take up a collection of money.
Idiom(s):
pass the time of dayTo exchange greetings or engage in pleasantries.
Idiom(s):
pass the torchTo relinquish (responsibilities, for example) to another or others.
[Middle English passen, from Old French passer, from Vulgar Latin passāre, from Latin passus, step; see pace1.] pass'er n.
Usage Note: The past tense and past participle of pass is passed: They passed (or have passed) our home. Time had passed slowly.Past is the corresponding adjective (in centuries past), adverb (drove past), preposition (past midnight), and noun (lived in the past).
n. a passing grade or mark on a test. (Compare this with fail.) : This is my third pass this semester.
in. to decline something; to decline to participate in something. : I'll have to pass. I am not prepared.
n. an act of declining something. : Can I have a pass on that one? There is nothing I can do.
n. a sexual advance or invitation. (Usually with make.) : When he made a pass at me, he got a pass right back.
tv. to succeed in spending counterfeit money; to succeed in cashing a bad check. : He was arrested for passing bad checks.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
pass (v.)
c.1275 (trans.) "to go by (something)," also "to cross over," from O.Fr. passer, from V.L. *passare "to step, walk, pass," from L. passus "step, pace" (see pace (1)). Intrans. sense of "to go on, to move forward, make one's way" is attested from 1297. Fig. sense of "to experience, undergo" (as in pass the time) is first recorded 1390. The meaning "to be thought to be something one is not" (esp. in racial sense) is from 1935, from pass oneself off (as), first found 1809. The general verb sense of "to be accepted as equivalent" is from 1596. Sense of "to go through an examination successfully" is from 1429. Meaning "decline to do something" is attested from 1869, originally in cards (euchre). In football, hockey, soccer, etc., the meaning "to transfer the ball or puck to another player" is from c.1865. Colloquial make a pass "offer an amorous advance" first recorded 1928, perhaps from a sporting sense. Pass up "decline, refuse" is attested from 1896. Pass the buck is from 1865, said to be poker slang reference to the buck horn-handled knife that was passed around to signify whose turn it was to deal. Pass the hat "seek contributions" is from 1762. Pass-fail as a grading method is attested from 1959.
[pas, pahs] 
