pass
pass — verb
1. to travel beyond a person, place, or thing so that it is behind you.
to travel beyond a person, place, or thing so that it is behind you.
Our bus passed the old station before the rain started.
pass + place you move beyond
Lena passed me on the stairs and waved from below.
pass + person
A black bike passed the school gate at full speed.
When we passed the bridge, the river looked silver.
- pass a car
- pass the station
- pass somebody on the road
- stop at
means not moving beyond a place
Grammar Patterns
pass + somebody/something
pass + by/past
Usage Note
Often used with roads, buildings, people, or vehicles. Distinguish from verb/2, which is about moving beyond a time point rather than a physical place.
Common Mistakes
2. to continue beyond a stated time, date, age, or other moment.
to continue beyond a stated time, date, age, or other moment.
The meeting passed noon, and people still had questions.
pass + time point
By the time we passed midnight, the roads were empty.
The class passed lunchtime because the science test ran late.
Our train passed sunrise before it finally reached Tainan Station.
- pass midnight
- pass noon
- pass a deadline
Grammar Patterns
pass + noon/midnight/lunchtime
pass + age/date/deadline
Usage Note
Object is usually a clock time, part of the day, birthday, date, or deadline. Distinguish from verb/3, where the thing passed is a number or limit in amount.
3. to become higher than a stated number, level, or line.
to become higher than a stated number, level, or line.
Sales passed one million dollars during the holiday week.
pass + number
The river passed the danger mark after two days of rain.
pass + limit or mark
Her heart rate passed 120 during the final lap.
By August, rents had passed last year's highest level.
- pass a limit
- pass the danger mark
- pass 100
- stay below
remain under a number or line
Grammar Patterns
pass + number
pass + limit/mark/level
Usage Note
Common with figures, prices, limits, and warning lines. Distinguish from verb/2, which is about time points such as noon or midnight.
Common Mistakes
4. to stop happening and no longer be felt, seen, or active.
to stop happening and no longer be felt, seen, or active.
The pain passed after Mia put ice on her ankle.
unpleasant feeling passes
By Monday morning, the shock had passed for most staff.
The storm passed before the children left the gym.
After a short rest, Omar's dizziness finally passed.
- pain passes
- shock passes
- the storm passes
- continue
keep going instead of ending
Grammar Patterns
pain/fear/shock passes
storm/illness passes
Usage Note
Subject is usually a feeling, illness, problem, or event. Distinguish from verb/9 in another chunk, where time itself passes.
5. to reach the needed standard in a test, course, or other check.
to reach the needed standard in a test, course, or other check.
Nina passed her driving test on the second try.
pass + test
Only twelve students passed the final math exam.
After months of practice, Ben finally passed on his third attempt.
intransitive use when exam is understood
Maya passed the course and started nursing school in June.
- pass an exam
- pass a test
- pass a course
- succeed
broader and not limited to tests
- get through
informal and often used for a difficult exam or stage
- fail
not reach the needed standard
Grammar Patterns
pass + exam/test/course
pass in an exam
Usage Note
With an object, the exam or course is named directly. Without an object, the test is usually understood from the situation.
Common Mistakes
6. to place something in another person's hand or near them so they can take it.
to place something in another person's hand or near them so they can take it.
Please pass the salt to Grandpa at the end of the table.
pass + object + to + person
Rita passed me a clean towel after the swim.
pass + person + object
The nurse passed the form across the desk.
At lunch, Evan passed his sister the bread basket.
- pass the salt
- pass me a towel
- pass the form across
Grammar Patterns
pass + somebody + something
pass + something + to somebody
Usage Note
Often used for small objects that move from one person to another nearby. Distinguish from verb/7, where the object is usually a ball during play.
Common Mistakes
7. in a team game, to send the ball to another player on your side by kicking, thro
in a team game, to send the ball to another player on your side by kicking, throwing, or hitting it.
Nora passed the ball to Ken before the goalkeeper rushed out.
pass + the ball to + teammate
From the corner, the captain passed the ball across the box to Liu.
The defender passed back to Maya under heavy pressure.
common sports pattern: pass back
In the final minute, Brazil passed wide to Vinicius instead of shooting.
- pass the ball
- pass back
- pass across
- pass wide
- shoot
aim at the goal yourself instead of giving the ball to a teammate
Grammar Patterns
pass (the ball) to + teammate
pass back / across / wide
Usage Note
Object is usually the ball, and the receiver is usually a teammate. Distinguish from sense 6, which covers ordinary giving outside sport.
Common Mistakes
8. to use fake or stolen money by giving it to someone as if it were normal money.
to use fake or stolen money by giving it to someone as if it were normal money.
The tourist tried to pass a fake fifty at the night market.
pass + fake note at a shop
Police said the gang passed stolen bills through small shops.
At the gas station, one man passed Sam a false note for coffee.
can take two objects
The cashier spotted the bad money before Rita could pass it.
- pass a fake note
- pass bad money
- pass stolen bills
- try to pass
- report
tell the police or staff about the false or stolen money instead of using it
Grammar Patterns
pass + fake note to + person
pass + person + fake note
Usage Note
Object is usually fake or stolen money, and the act is hidden from the other person. Distinguish from sense 6, where you simply give something openly.
Common Mistakes
9. to move forward so that more time is gone.
to move forward so that more time is gone.
The summer passed quickly once the new baby came home.
time expression + pass
Two hours passed, but the repair truck still had not arrived.
As we waited in the clinic, the morning passed slowly.
Several years passed before Hana saw her cousin again.
- time passes
- hours pass
- years pass
- pass quickly
Grammar Patterns
time / an hour / a year + passes
Usage Note
Usually used with a time expression as subject, such as hours, months, or winter. Distinguish from sense 10, where a person actively does something to fill the time.
10. to use an activity to fill a period when you are waiting or bored.
to use an activity to fill a period when you are waiting or bored.
We passed the long train ride by playing card games.
pass + time period + by + -ing
During the storm, the children passed the afternoon with puzzles.
pass + time period + with + noun
Lena passed the waiting time by reading old magazines.
At the airport, I passed an hour watching planes land.
- pass the time
- pass an hour
- pass the afternoon
- pass time by reading
Grammar Patterns
pass + time period + by + -ing
pass + time period + with + noun
Usage Note
Object is a period such as an hour, the afternoon, or the journey. Often followed by 'by' plus an -ing form, or by 'with' plus a noun.
Common Mistakes
11. for an official body to agree to a bill, rule, or plan, often through a formal v
for an official body to agree to a bill, rule, or plan, often through a formal vote.
Last night, the council passed the new parking rules.
official body + pass + rules
After weeks of debate, parliament passed the budget at midnight.
The school board passed stricter phone rules for classrooms.
Lawmakers passed the bill despite loud protests outside.
common object: pass a bill
- pass a bill
- pass a law
- pass a motion
- pass new rules
Grammar Patterns
pass + bill / law / rule
pass + motion by voting
Usage Note
Subject is usually a council, parliament, board, or committee, and the object is often a bill, law, motion, or budget. Distinguish from personal approval, which is more often expressed with 'approve'.
Common Mistakes
12. to give an opinion about someone or something, usually in a judging or critical
to give an opinion about someone or something, usually in a judging or critical way.
At the park, two strangers passed judgment on Maya's crying son.
pass judgment on + person
At dinner, Uncle Ray passed comment on everyone's clothes.
pass comment on + something
Online strangers passed judgment on the singer's late apology.
Before the facts were clear, neighbors had already passed comment.
- pass judgment
- pass judgment on
- pass comment
- pass comment on
- withhold judgment
choose not to form or express an opinion yet
Grammar Patterns
pass judgment on + person / behaviour
pass comment on + something
Usage Note
Usually appears in fixed phrases such as 'pass judgment on' or 'pass comment on'. Distinguish from sense 13, where a judge decides a criminal punishment.
Common Mistakes
13. to announce in court what punishment a guilty person must receive.
to announce in court what punishment a guilty person must receive.
Judge Moreno passed a six-month prison sentence on Raul for the shop attack.
pass + a sentence
After lunch, the court passed sentence on all three men.
legal phrase: pass sentence
Judge Lin passed sentence after hearing the victim's family.
By sunset, Judge Perez passed a life sentence in open court.
- pass sentence
- pass sentence on somebody
- pass a prison sentence
- acquit
means officially decide that a person is not guilty
Grammar Patterns
pass sentence on + somebody
pass + a sentence
Usage Note
Usually used in legal reporting, with sentence directly after the verb or in the phrase pass sentence on somebody. Distinguish from verb/12 in another chunk, which is about judging behaviour or character.
Common Mistakes
14. to stop living, often in a gentle or polite way of speaking.
to stop living, often in a gentle or polite way of speaking.
Grandpa passed peacefully in his sleep last winter.
polite use for death
Aunt Rosa passed at ninety-two with her daughters nearby.
pass at + age
The old farm dog passed during a cold January night.
After months in bed, Mr. Clark passed before sunrise.
- pass peacefully
- pass in your sleep
- pass at ninety-two
- survive
continue to live instead of dying
Grammar Patterns
pass peacefully
pass at + age
Usage Note
Usually intransitive and often chosen as a softer alternative to die. It is common in family talk, notices, and respectful reports of death.
Common Mistakes
15. to let waste or another substance leave the body in urine or stool.
to let waste or another substance leave the body in urine or stool.
Babies pass waste more often when they drink extra milk.
pass + waste from the body
The medicine helped Omar pass the stone by morning.
medical use: pass a stone
After the scan, the doctor said Ava would pass the dye soon.
Cows pass large amounts of waste after eating fresh grass.
- pass waste
- pass a stone
- pass the dye
- retain
keep a substance in the body instead of letting it out
Grammar Patterns
pass + waste/urine/stool
pass + a stone/dye
Usage Note
Object is usually waste, urine, stool, a stone, or another substance leaving the body. Distinguish from verb/16, where the thing passed is blood and the meaning points to illness.
Common Mistakes
16. to produce urine or stool that contains blood.
to produce urine or stool that contains blood.
The nurse told Ava to call if she passed blood in her urine again.
pass blood as a symptom
After the fall, Leo passed blood and went to the hospital.
The doctor asked whether Marcus had passed blood that week.
During the night, the child passed blood in his urine.
pass blood in your urine
- pass blood
- pass blood in your urine
- pass blood in your stool
- bleed
much broader and does not show where the blood appears
- have blood in your urine
specific to urine rather than stool
- have blood in your stool
specific to stool rather than urine
Grammar Patterns
pass blood
pass blood in + urine/stool
Usage Note
Usually used in medical talk or reports. Distinguish from verb/15, which can be about ordinary waste or a stone rather than a warning sign of illness.
17. to let a turn go by without making a move or giving an answer.
to let a turn go by without making a move or giving an answer.
When the hard history question came up, Ella passed.
intransitive use in a quiz
Max passed because he had no cards of that color.
In the last round, our team passed and lost the point.
At the TV quiz, Sara passed and let Tom answer.
- decide to pass
- pass in the last round
- everyone passed
- skip
common general word for not taking a turn
- sit out
more often means not joining part of a game or activity
- decline to answer
formal and limited to questions
Grammar Patterns
pass in a game
pass in a quiz
Usage Note
Often used without an object, with the question or turn understood from the situation. Common in card games, quiz shows, and similar turn-based activities.
Common Mistakes
18. to move from one condition, mood, or stage into another.
to move from one condition, mood, or stage into another.
The room passed from silence into loud celebration.
pass from one state into another
As evening came, the sky passed from blue to grey.
pass from + state + to + state
Mina's face passed quickly from fear to relief.
By spring, the garden passed into a dry yellow state.
- pass from fear to relief
- pass from blue to grey
- pass into a new state
- remain
stay in the same state
Grammar Patterns
pass from + state + to + state
pass into + state
Usage Note
Usually followed by from ... to ... or into .... Distinguish from verb/4 in another chunk, where a feeling or event passes by ending rather than changing into something else.
pass around
phrasal verbTo give something to each person in a group one after another.
Please pass around the snacks to everyone.
The teacher passed around the worksheets to the class.
pass as
phrasal verbTo be accepted or considered as something, often despite not being that thing.
This fake diamond could pass as real to most people.
He might pass as a local with his accent.
pass away
phrasal verbTo die.
My grandmother passed away peacefully last night.
The famous actor passed away at the age of 90.
pass by
phrasal verbTo go past someone or something.
I saw a red car pass by our house.
She passed by the bakery without stopping.
pass down
phrasal verbTo give or teach something to a younger person in the family.
This necklace was passed down from my great-grandmother.
They passed down their traditions to the next generation.
pass for
phrasal verbTo be accepted as something, especially when not really that thing.
With that uniform, he could pass for a police officer.
This cheap wine might pass for expensive in a blind taste test.
pass into
phrasal verbTo change into a different state or condition.
The liquid passes into a solid when frozen.
The tradition passed into history over time.
pass off
phrasal verbTo happen in a particular way, often successfully.
The event passed off without any problems.
The meeting passed off smoothly despite the tension.
pass off as
phrasal verbTo pretend that something is something else, especially to deceive.
He tried to pass off the painting as an original.
She passed off her opinion as fact.
pass on
phrasal verbTo give something to someone else, or to die.
Please pass on the message to your colleagues.
My uncle passed on last year after a long illness.
pass out
phrasal verbTo become unconscious.
He passed out from the heat during the marathon.
The patient passed out after seeing the needle.
pass round
phrasal verbTo give something to each person in a group; same as pass around.
She passed round the photos from her vacation.
The waiter passed round the menu to everyone.
pass over
phrasal verbTo ignore or skip someone or something, especially when choosing someone for a job or promotion.
He was passed over for promotion again.
The manager passed over my suggestion without comment.
pass through
phrasal verbTo go through a place or experience something briefly.
We passed through a small town on our way.
She passed through a difficult period after her divorce.
pass up
phrasal verbTo choose not to take an opportunity.
She passed up the chance to study abroad.
I can't pass up this job offer.
come to pass
idiomTo happen or occur, especially after a period of time.
The predicted economic crisis came to pass last year.
How did such a disaster come to pass?
not pass your lips
idiomTo not say anything about a particular subject.
The secret plan must not pass your lips.
Not a single word of complaint passed his lips.
To collect money from a group of people, often for a gift or charity.
We passed the hat around to buy a farewell present.
After the meeting, they passed the hat for disaster relief.
pass muster
idiomTo be considered good enough to be accepted.
His work did not pass muster with the manager.
Will this old equipment pass muster for the inspection?
To greet someone and have a brief, polite conversation.
I passed the time of day with my neighbor this morning.
She stopped to pass the time of day with the shopkeeper.
pass water
idiomTo urinate.
The doctor asked the patient to pass water for a test.
He excused himself to pass water before the long drive.
pass — noun
1. a result showing that you reached the level needed in an exam.
a result showing that you reached the level needed in an exam.
Mia needed one more correct answer to get a pass in chemistry.
get a pass in [subject]
Daniel's parents smiled when his exam paper showed a pass.
After two retakes, Sara finally earned a pass on the driving theory test.
earn a pass on [test]
Only twelve students in the class got a pass in physics.
- get a pass
- earn a pass
- a pass in maths
- a pass on the test
- passing grade
especially American; focuses on a score high enough to succeed
- pass mark
especially British; often means the minimum score required rather than the result
- success
broader and not limited to tests
- fail
an unsuccessful result in an exam or course
Grammar Patterns
get a pass in [subject]
a pass on [test]
Usage Note
Usually appears with verbs such as 'get', 'earn', or 'scrape', and often follows 'in' + subject or 'on' + test. Distinguish from sense 2, where the result is recorded without any score or letter grade.
Common Mistakes
2. a result recorded simply as success, without any score or letter grade attached.
a result recorded simply as success, without any score or letter grade attached.
Professor Lin's lab course gives a pass instead of a number grade.
pass instead of a number grade
Eva was relieved to see a pass beside her lab project.
At our hospital, the internship report is marked as pass or fail only.
fixed contrast: pass or fail
Nursing students need a pass in anatomy to move to year two.
- pass or fail
- record a pass
- mark as pass
- pass/fail course
- pass grade
can mean the minimum acceptable result, though some systems still use letters or numbers
- satisfactory
formal label used in some schools instead of a graded mark
- credit
in some institutions means a course was completed successfully
- fail
shows that the required standard was not reached
Grammar Patterns
be marked as pass or fail
record a pass
Usage Note
Common in schools and training systems that use pass/fail grading. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not show how well the student did, only that the minimum standard was met.
Common Mistakes
3. the act of sending the ball to a player on your own side in a team game.
the act of sending the ball to a player on your own side in a team game.
Tanaka saw the wing free and made a quick pass.
make a pass
One short pass opened space near the goal for Brazil.
short/long pass in team sports
The coach praised Lina's pass across the wet field.
Marcus missed an easy pass to Alex after the throw-in.
a pass to [player]
- make a pass
- short pass
- long pass
- pass to the striker
Grammar Patterns
make a pass
a pass to [player]
Usage Note
Used mainly in football, basketball, rugby, and similar team sports. It is often described by direction or style, as in 'short pass', 'long pass', or 'pass to the wing'.
4. an official card, paper, or ticket that gives you permission to enter a place or
an official card, paper, or ticket that gives you permission to enter a place or travel by a particular service.
Show your pass at the station gate before boarding the train.
show your pass
Carla forgot her work pass and had to call security.
work/bus/visitor pass
Grandpa keeps his bus pass in the front pocket.
Each reporter received a pass for the concert hall.
a pass for [place/event]
- bus pass
- visitor pass
- work pass
- press pass
Grammar Patterns
show your pass
a pass for [place/event]
Usage Note
Often modified by the place or purpose: 'bus pass', 'visitor pass', 'work pass', 'press pass'. Distinguish from sense 5, which is a school note for leaving class for a short time.
Common Mistakes
5. a written note from school staff that lets a student leave the classroom for a s
a written note from school staff that lets a student leave the classroom for a short time.
Nina showed the pass and walked to the nurse's office.
school pass for leaving class
Mr Chen wrote Jake a pass for the school library.
write someone a pass
Without a pass, students cannot leave class during tests.
without a pass
The teacher signed a pass so Emma could visit the office.
- hall pass
- write a pass
- sign a pass
- without a pass
- hall pass
common American school term for permission to leave class temporarily
- note
general word; less specific than 'pass'
- leave slip
a school or office form allowing temporary absence
Grammar Patterns
write someone a pass
without a pass
Usage Note
Common in school settings and often written by a teacher, nurse, or office worker. Distinguish from sense 4: this pass allows temporary movement inside school rather than general travel or entry.
Common Mistakes
6. a road or narrow way that crosses high mountains or runs between them.
a road or narrow way that crosses high mountains or runs between them.
Snow closed the pass between the two villages last night.
the pass between two places
Our bus climbed slowly through the high pass at dawn.
through the pass
The army guarded the narrow pass above the river.
Hikers crossed the pass before the afternoon storm arrived.
cross the pass
- mountain pass
- high pass
- narrow pass
- cross the pass
Grammar Patterns
through the pass
cross the pass
Usage Note
Usually refers to a route high in the mountains and often appears with words like 'high', 'narrow', and 'snow-covered'. It is a landscape term, not a paper or ticket like senses 4 and 5.
7. one full reading of a piece of writing to check it and make changes.
one full reading of a piece of writing to check it and make changes.
After the first pass, Nina cut three long sentences from the report.
first pass through a text
Before the school magazine went to print, Jon made one last pass over the article.
pass over a text before publication
The copy editor found a misspelled name on her final pass.
One quick pass through the essay missed the problem in paragraph four.
- first pass
- final pass
- pass through the essay
- pass over the article
- read-through
close in meaning; often stresses reading the whole text from start to finish
- review
broader; can include judging or discussing, not only rereading
Grammar Patterns
a first/final pass through or over a text
Usage Note
Often appears with stage words such as first, second, or final. When the document is named, through or over is common after pass.
Common Mistakes
8. a point where a person, group, or situation is in serious trouble.
a point where a person, group, or situation is in serious trouble.
By winter, the family was in a bad pass after the factory closed.
in a bad pass — literary pattern
In Geneva, the peace talks reached a dangerous pass when both sides refused to meet.
reach a dangerous pass
Grandma's health came to a bad pass before the new medicine arrived.
By spring, the small farm was in a bad pass after the drought.
- in a bad pass
- at a hard pass
- reach a dangerous pass
- come to a bad pass
- plight
more common for a very difficult situation
- difficulty
broader and more everyday
- crisis
stronger; suggests urgent danger or a turning point
Grammar Patterns
in a bad pass
at a hard pass
Usage Note
Mostly found in literary or old-fashioned phrasing, especially with in, at, or verbs like reach and come to. It usually refers to serious trouble, not a small daily problem.
Common Mistakes
9. Words or touch that show sexual interest in someone and are meant to begin an in
Words or touch that show sexual interest in someone and are meant to begin an intimate relationship.
The drunk man made a pass at the waitress near closing time.
make a pass at somebody
Dana left early after a stranger made a pass at her.
Everyone saw Tom making a pass at the new bartender.
make a pass at + person
The boss was warned for making passes at young staff.
- make a pass at somebody
- making passes at staff
- advance
more formal; often used for unwanted romantic or sexual behavior
- come-on
informal; stresses obvious sexual interest
- flirtation
broader and often lighter; may lack the stronger sexual force of this sense
Grammar Patterns
make a pass at somebody
Usage Note
Most common in the fixed phrase make a pass at somebody. It usually suggests unwanted sexual interest rather than friendly or harmless flirting.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/5
Pass is the normal word when someone reaches the required standard in an exam, test, or course. Succeed is broader and less tied to assessment: you can succeed in business, a plan, or a competition. Qualify often stresses meeting a condition that lets you enter a next stage, team, or event, so the focus is on eligibility, not the test result itself. Get through is more informal and can also mean surviving a difficult experience. Scrape through adds the idea of passing by a very small margin. You can pass the driving test, qualify for the national finals, get through a hard week at work, or scrape through maths with 50 percent.
Etymology
Pass came into Middle English from Anglo-French passer. That verb goes back to Vulgar Latin passare, built on Latin passus, meaning a step or pace. The basic idea was movement by steps, and English later stretched it into many other meanings, including going beyond a place, letting time go by, handing something to another person, and doing well enough in a test. Several noun senses belong to the same family, especially the idea of a route or opening you can go through.