passes 1 of 3

present tense third-person singular of pass
1
2
3
4
5
6
as in undergoes
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
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9
as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

passes

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pass

passes

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pass
1
as in tickets
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) a pass to leave the military base for the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of passes
Verb
If your plants are looking wilted or their pots are drying out super-fast, consider temporarily moving them to a lightly shaded section of your patio or garden until the heat wave passes. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026 Independence Day morning offers one of the best opportunities in decades, as the distant ice giant passes extraordinarily close to Mars in the predawn sky. Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026 Persons recreating outdoors, or in campgrounds, should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026 The airlines took the money and sold day passes to anyone with $50. Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Fire shelters are made of multiple layers Crafted from aluminum foil, silica fabric and fiberglass, fire shelters are designed to protect users from the intense heat of flames and to trap breathable air inside as a fire passes. Jack Dura, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Hendra virus typically passes from bats to horses before occasionally infecting humans. William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 After withdrawal passes, some people notice benefits such as better sleep, less anxiety, and less reliance on caffeine. Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 2 July 2026 There’s a southern route that goes through the waters off Oman; a second route, which was used before the war, passes through the middle of the strait; and a third route further north is controlled by Iran. Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Noun
For guests who want to use the facilities without booking a treatment, day passes are available. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Zico played some good passes, but he was also shackled well by Italy’s legendary man-marker Claudio Gentile. Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Road tripping in Europe is no longer just about scenic roads, mountain passes and postcard villages. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Brilliant start undermined The first half hour of the match was played at the pace Ivory Coast desired with Les Elephants using their high press and long passes to consistently put Norway on its heels. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 The historic railway follows a 1898 Gold Rush route from Skagway through mountain passes, waterfalls, and dramatic cliffside scenery. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 When asked for a common thread in their losses to the Diamondbacks, Vitello pointed to the quantity of free passes. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 June 2026 The lefty, who needed 37 pitches to get through the fourth due to Cabrera’s flub and three free passes, logged five innings, two runs (0 earned), four walks and six strikeouts over 96 pitches. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 Arrive two to three hours before kickoff to avoid heavy delays, and buy parking passes early since day-of credit card lots are limited and more expensive. System Process, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
  • For my own hat, Adams hands the shaping over to Ryan McBride, a fellow manager who has worked alongside him for most of Adam's tenure.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
  • Suffering from a broken rib and sinus infection, Remco Evenepoel hands his bidon to a child on the roadside and dismounts his bike.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Santorini stops being only a view and starts behaving like a place again.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The set up leaves California vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of the stock market, dramatic swings in revenue and, in recent years, reliant on poor projections.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • Durica said the event that shaped the world leaves behind much more than a board game and a marvel of engineering.
    Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Until Congress enacts a uniform national ban on partisan gerrymandering, the amendment’s advocates argue New York shouldn’t fight with its hands tied behind its back.
    Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
  • Instead, the measure freezes corporate net operating loss and enacts taxes on social media companies, digital assets, fantasy sports, tobacco and sports betting on prediction market websites.
    Lauren Victory, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • This typically happens because navigating the conflict proves that the relationship is resilient and can withstand the realities of the human experience.
    Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The uranium used in nuclear fuel undergoes an enrichment process to increase the levels of the more radioactive U-235 form.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 29 June 2026
  • The trailer teases Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular creature, who undergoes an intense transformation that leaves the townspeople terrified.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Halfway through, Mando is captured by Clone Wars’ bounty hunter Embo, who was voiced by Filoni on the show but never utters so much as a single line of dialogue here.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 22 May 2026
  • Yet Cornelius Krull, the patriarch, speaks only a German dialect and never utters more than two words.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Like many of the people camped outside their families’ homes in Venezuela, Mendoza refuses to believe they are gone until the last moment possible.
    Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The result is heat that builds, amplifies and refuses to break, often setting records on the way.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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