pass the time

idiom

: to let time or a period of time go by especially while doing something enjoyable
We played games to pass the time on the bus.

Examples of pass the time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
What started as a way to pass the time became a reckoning with the history he had never been taught. Delano Massey, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025 Some people like to gather before and after the main event, so games are an enjoyable way to pass the time with your friends and family. Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025 Some of them tell stories and play games to pass the time, others are in mourning and some of them try to speak to the mysterious wilderness that has perhaps been responsible for some of the shocking events from the first two seasons. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025 To escape the ultra-competitive world of professional sports, athletes often, ironically, turn to other forms of competition to pass the time. Issy Ronald, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pass the time

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Cite this Entry

“Pass the time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20the%20time. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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