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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
26 June 2026
Rather than chasing every passing opportunity, this transit teaches us to invest our time in the people, places and things that prove to be reliable.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
David Hickey,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Here, though, his passing is given its due.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
That same year, James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, passing former Los Angeles great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Adjective
With every passing year, as historical mysteries are solved, and documents and artifacts emerge from attics and museum archives, those representations become more accurate.
—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
26 June 2026
Rather than chasing every passing opportunity, this transit teaches us to invest our time in the people, places and things that prove to be reliable.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Noun
Watch Daizen Maeda’s strike against Sweden, a delightful one- and two-touch passing move that bamboozled the opposition defense.
—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Here, though, his passing is given its due.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
Verb
According to investigators, several passing drivers spotted the flames and smoke and called 911.
—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
That same year, James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, passing former Los Angeles great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for passing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passing
Adjective
-
In fact, the weather service said that more than 50% of flash-flood deaths happen in vehicles driven into floodwaters.
-
Don’t miss Alcopop’s Black Mango Watermelon, Seongju Chamoe and Watermelon Ice Pop; Matcha Latte, with flash-frozen local herbs and a hand-cut ice diamond; and Journey, a concoction that maps a tomato’s global odyssey.
Noun
-
Benning's cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, medical examiners testified during Taylor's trial.
-
According to a Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner death investigation report obtained by USA TODAY on July 1, Ransone's brother told an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department that the actor had a history of suicidal ideation.
Adverb
-
Despite consuming mass quantities of high-calorie foods during competition season, most professional competitive eaters are very lean.
-
Music icon Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce, who announced their engagement in August 2025, are anticipated to tie the knot very soon.
Verb
-
Golden State finished with a season-high 15 steals after handing Atlanta back-to-back losses to start the Dream's 0-4 road trip.
-
Voice assistants already complete purchases and arrange food deliveries, without handing control back to the user.
Verb
-
Technology led to the suspect's arrest Officers obtained doorbell camera footage, which showed a silver SUV stopping along a curb on Majors Choice Drive.
-
Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
Verb
-
Johnston, Cobbins leaving Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement.
-
Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
Verb
-
In response, Congress expanded federal power by enacting the Ku Klux Klan Acts of 1870 and 1871.
-
Japan is enacting its most significant security policy shift since 1954, transitioning from a narrowly defensive posture to robust deterrence.
Verb
-
The pace and rate of change in the workforce is happening at unprecedented levels.
-
Volunteers with the nonprofit are trying to prevent Chicagoans from having to call 911, but the Chicago Fire Department says those calls are happening.
Cite this Entry
“Passing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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