26984 words

pass

53 definitions • 70 examples
1
to go past something or someone or move in relation to it, him, or her:

Examples:

I passed him on the stairs this morning.
You should only pass a slower vehicle if it is safe to do so.
If you pass a supermarket, could you get me some milk?
I was just passing by (= going past the place where you are), so I thought I'd drop in for a chat.
A momentary look of anxiety passed across his face.
A cloud passed over the sun.
2
to go past a particular point in time:

Examples:

Don't buy goods that have passed their sell-by date.
3
to go past something by being greater in amount or degree:

Examples:

The company's turnover is expected to pass the $10 million mark by the end of this year.
4
If you say a state or feeling will pass, you mean it will disappear:

Examples:

Don't worry, his depression is only temporary - it'll soon pass.
5
to be successful in an exam, course, etc.:

Examples:

Guess what? I've passed my driving test!
The exam is so hard that only five percent of all applicants pass.
6
to give something to someone:

Examples:

Could you pass the salt please?
I asked if I could see the letter, so she passed it to me reluctantly.
[ + two objects ] Gerald passed me the note./Gerald passed the note to me.
Genes are the means by which parents' characteristics are passed on to their children.
7
In sports, if you pass the ball, you kick, throw, or hit it to someone in your team.
8
If you pass money, you give someone false or stolen money without telling them:

Examples:

[ + two objects ] I haven't trusted him since he passed me a forged $100 bill.
9
When time passes, it goes past:

Examples:

Time seems to pass (by) so slowly when you're bored.
I was a little worried about the party, but the evening passed without any great disasters.
10
If you pass a period of time, you do something to stop yourself being bored during that period:

Examples:

The visitors pass their days swimming, windsurfing, and playing volleyball.
11
(of an official group of people) to give approval to something, especially by voting to make it law:

Examples:

The government passed a law to restrict the sale of guns.
The food supplement had been passed as safe for human consumption.
12
to express a judgment or opinion about something, especially someone else's behaviour:

Examples:

As a convicted criminal, he's in no position to pass judgment (on the rest of us).
13
to say officially, as a judge, what a criminal's official punishment will be
14
to die:

Examples:

After she passed, the doctors wanted to do an autopsy.
His wife was at his side when he passed peacefully this morning.
15
to remove waste from the body:

Examples:

to pass urine
16
to have blood in your urine or faeces (= solid waste):

Examples:

If you pass blood, you should go and see your doctor.
17
to choose not to play in a part of a game or not to answer a question in a quiz
18
to change from one state to another:

Examples:

Wax passes from solid to liquid when you heat it.
19

Examples:

Jon Hill achieved two grade A passes at A-level.
20
a successful result in a course or exam for which the student will not be given a mark:

Examples:

I got a pass in my Literature course.
21
a movement of the ball from one player to another member of the same team in a team sport
22
an official document or ticket showing that you have the right to go somewhere or use a particular form of transport:

Examples:

a bus pass
a boarding pass
My guest pass allows me to use the club's facilities free of charge.
23
a document that allows a student to leave a class for a particular reason:

Examples:

She had a pass to go to the library.
24
a path or road between or over mountains:

Examples:

a mountain pass
25
an occasion when someone reads through a text, especially in order to edit it (= make changes to it):

Examples:

I'm now doing my editing pass on the document.
Don't try to memorize everything. Don't try to get every detail on the first pass.
26

Examples:

If I'd been aware things had reached such a pass, I'd have told the police.
UK It's come to a pretty pass (= it's a bad situation) when you can't even have a few quiet drinks with some friends.
27
to speak to or touch someone in a way that shows you would like to start a sexual relationship with them
28
to go past or move beyond something or someone:

Examples:

[ T ] A car passed us doing 70 miles per hour.
[ I ] I was just passing by and stopped to say hello.
29
to cause something to go around, across, through, etc., something else, or to be positioned in such a way:

Examples:

[ T ] Pass the wire through the slot and pull it out from the other side.
[ I always + adv/prep ] The causeway passes across the bay and takes you to the mainland.
30
to give something to someone:

Examples:

[ T ] Please pass the bread.
31
In team sports played with a ball, if you pass, you throw, kick, or hit the ball to someone on your team.
32
to be successful in a test, exam, or course, or to judge someone as having been successful in it:

Examples:

[ T ] The professor said that if I passed the final exam, she’ll pass me.
33
to go past or through a period of time:

Examples:

[ I ] The hours passed quickly.
34
to approve or be approved by a group having authority, esp. by voting:

Examples:

[ T ] The bill passed both houses of Congress and was signed by the president.
[ I ] The bill passed unanimously.
35
to choose not to do, have, take part in, or take a turn at something:

Examples:

I think I’ll pass on going to the movies.
36
to be accepted as being something that you are not, esp. something better or more attractive:

Examples:

Marion looks so young she could pass for 30.
Do this jacket and skirt match well enough to pass as a suit?
37
an official document or ticket showing that you have the right to go somewhere or do something:

Examples:

We bought three-day passes to the amusement park.
The children get bus passes to travel to and from school.
38
a mark given to show that a student has successfully completed a course or an exam
39
the act of giving or sending the ball to another player on your own team:

Examples:

The receiver dropped the pass.
40
to go past something or someone or move in relation to it or them:

Examples:

I was just passing by, so I thought I'd drop in for a chat.
41
to go past a particular point in time:

Examples:

Don't buy goods which have passed their sell-by date.
42
to go past something by being greater in amount or degree:

Examples:

As the world's largest convenience store chain, it just passed McDonald's in the number of worldwide outlets.
pass the $1m/€100m/£10bn, etc. mark The company is expected to pass the $10m mark by the end of this year.
43
if you say a situation or feeling will pass, you mean it will disappear:

Examples:

We're in a difficult economic situation, but it will pass eventually.
44
to be successful in an examination, course, etc.:

Examples:

All interviewees need to pass a basic math and literacy test.
45
to give something to someone:

Examples:

Could you pass me that file, please?
46
if you pass money, you give someone false or stolen money without telling them:

Examples:

Police have warned businesses that someone is passing stolen checks in the area.
47
when time passes, it goes past:

Examples:

A lot of time has passed since we opened our first store.
48
if you pass time, you spend time doing something:

Examples:

With more people passing time in the terminal, airport officials try to make them comfortable.
49
to give approval to something, especially by voting to make it law:

Examples:

50
to choose not to answer a question:

Examples:

pass on sth Asked whether he thought the FA should intervene, he replied diplomatically: 'Can I pass on this one?'
51
to change from one condition to another:

Examples:

pass from sth to sth As new electronic gadgets fall in price, they pass from a niche product to a mass product.
52
an official document or ticket which shows that you have the right to go somewhere or use a particular form of transport:

Examples:

a parking/security/visitor's pass Sign in at reception and they will give you a visitor's pass.
an annual/season/three-day pass Frequent visitors of national forests can save money by buying an annual pass.
53

Examples:

This candidate got 4 grade A passes at A-level.

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