as in flash
lasting only for a short time
his parents were willing to buy him a piano if he demonstrated that his interest in music was more than a passing fancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities
the precise moment of his passing was recorded by the machines at his bedside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
a passing strange turn of events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stopping
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaving
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in enacting
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in happening
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 experiencing
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 uttering
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in refusing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in flying
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of passing
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Considering how Sarkisian traditionally uses his tight ends in the passing game, Masunas or one of the younger tight ends will have an opportunity to grab the starting role.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Philo threw for a state record 13,922 passing yards to break Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s mark.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
With muddy swims in the water tower, passing trains as social hubs, and plenty of family mischief, the show celebrated simple living with a great sense of humor.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
So can Denver dial up McLaughlin’s usage in the run game, continue to get Harvey some touches out of the backfield and in the passing game and find the balance without being predictable?
—Noun
Three years after his mom's passing, Paves still tears up at the memory of her vivaciousness, her love for her family, and her eventual fate.
—Verb
Contemplating passing seasons and dead flowers, Weir’s deep, lava lamp-like flow of a vocal is as sadly ruminative as Barlow’s lyrics.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment.—
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Noun
-
Fuentes is facing one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death.—
-
Sandoval had not been charged as of Thursday in the teen’s death, according to police.—
Adverb
-
The senior administration official said the transfer would happen quickly because Venezuela’s crude is very heavy, which means it can’t be stored for long.—
-
Pipes and sewers can be very dangerous for pets and wildlife and Roto-Rooter, with specialized equipment and personnel, has become a go-to call to save cats, dogs, turtles and more.—
Verb
-
In the fourth quarter and the game well in hand, Ndukwe blocked James Ferguson-Reynolds’ punt, handing IU the ball on the seven.—
-
Sanders recorded 16 tackles and one forced fumble in 13 games, with Pro Football Focus handing him the third-best grade of all Texas State defenders.—
Verb
-
The Rhode founder and her stylist Dani Michele delivered a show-stopping moment on the red carpet, pulling a shimmering 2009 Armani Privé gown from the archives.—
-
Stroll through the Funk Zone, stopping at wineries, breweries, and local shops along the way.—
Verb
-
Limited backup power could knock out internet access, leaving millions to wait for instant answers.—
-
Vatti said Diamantis made an $80,000 payment on the day after signing the retainer and made an additional six payments totalling $105,000 between August 2024 and February 2025, leaving the $65,000 balance.—
Verb
-
Starring Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough as the psychotic couple enacting his redemption plan, the film is described as a sharp social commentary.—
-
Costco was among the largest of more than 1,000 retailers that sued, arguing that the president had exceeded his emergency powers in enacting some of the tariffs.—
Verb
-
Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening.—
-
Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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