1
as in handed
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stopped
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in left
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 enacted
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in happened
to take place
and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in experienced
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in uttered
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 refused
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in flew
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of passed
Use the dropdown below to explore how districts’ 2024 presidential election results have shifted in each state that has passed new maps.
—
Ashley Wu, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Tariffs, energy volatility, supply chain realignment and accelerated technology investment introduce unpredictability that cannot always be passed to customers.
—David Pennino, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
All major bills passed, including a bailout for Hennepin County Medical Center, license tab reductions, a bonding bill and property tax relief.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Montana lawmakers also passed legislation that bars the state from regulating planet-warming emissions, unless the federal government does so first.
—Ellis Juhlin, NPR, 18 May 2026
The state’s local control funding formula, passed in his first term, steers more money to schools with more low-income, English-learner and foster students.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Last week, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill introduced by the Merediths’ state senator, Avery Frix, that would create a fund to compensate homeowners whose houses have been damaged by oil and gas pollution.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026
The first comes quickly, and just after a rare pair of tanks have passed.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
On March 24, the court passed a resolution recognizing and commending the Turning Point Academy of Granbury, a religious school set to open in the fall that is connected to the conservative Turning Point USA movement.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026
Ashley Wu, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Tariffs, energy volatility, supply chain realignment and accelerated technology investment introduce unpredictability that cannot always be passed to customers.
—David Pennino, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
All major bills passed, including a bailout for Hennepin County Medical Center, license tab reductions, a bonding bill and property tax relief.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Montana lawmakers also passed legislation that bars the state from regulating planet-warming emissions, unless the federal government does so first.
—Ellis Juhlin, NPR, 18 May 2026
The state’s local control funding formula, passed in his first term, steers more money to schools with more low-income, English-learner and foster students.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Last week, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill introduced by the Merediths’ state senator, Avery Frix, that would create a fund to compensate homeowners whose houses have been damaged by oil and gas pollution.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026
The first comes quickly, and just after a rare pair of tanks have passed.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
On March 24, the court passed a resolution recognizing and commending the Turning Point Academy of Granbury, a religious school set to open in the fall that is connected to the conservative Turning Point USA movement.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed
Verb
-
Cabrera carefully handed bags of belongings to soldiers escorting a small group of families returning home to gather their things.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
When most students handed a question to the AI and submitted the answer, their gamma wave activity — the neural signature of cognitive engagement — dropped by roughly 40%.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Can the textpocalypse be stopped?—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Otherwise, the Canadiens were stopped on their first shot and scored on their next three in Game 6; the Sabres were stopped on their first shot and scored on three straight against Jakub Dobeš in Game 5.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
No pattern enacted on these buttons will safely land a four-hundred-ton jetliner, flaring and bouncing and settling heavily onto its twenty-two wheels while the spoilers on the wings snap up and the jets scream in reverse and the passengers sigh in relief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Republican lawmakers also passed a spending package last year — enacted as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — that included provisions expected to reduce ACA enrollment and was cited among factors fueling higher premiums this year.—
Julie Appleby,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Except that is not what happened.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Police said the fatal confrontation happened next to a weed truck parked across from a gas station.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
For example, even the rarest piece in your closet is first experienced by your car, or your backyard, or the courtyard of a county museum.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
That line, uttered by Duncan in the last scene of this week’s episode, is as succinct a thesis statement as The Audacity has offered about the ethical wasteland of Silicon Valley.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
The reference, for those who don’t closely follow conservative news sources, was to a line Obama uttered in 2012.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
California officials have flatly refused.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Since 2008, Medicare has refused to reimburse hospitals for the additional cost of treating many infections that develop after admission.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Qassem could not accept that the search had ended.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
Johnson began this season with Trae Young as his point guard and ended it averaging more touches per game than any forward in the league.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passed. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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