pass (passes plural & 3rd person present) (passing present participle) (passed past tense & past participle )
1 verb To pass someone or something means to go past them without stopping.
As she passed the library door, the telephone began to ring... V n
Jane stood aside to let her pass... V
I sat in the garden and watched the passing cars. V-ing
2 verb When someone or something passes in a particular direction, they move in that direction.
(=go)
He passed through the doorway into Ward B... V prep/adv
The car passed over the body twice, once backward and then forward. V prep/adv
3 verb If something such as a road or pipe passes along a particular route, it goes along that route.
After going over the Col de Vars, the route passes through St-Paul-sur-Ubaye... V prep/adv
The road passes a farmyard. V n
4 verb If you pass something through, over, or round something else, you move or push it through, over, or round that thing.
`I don't understand,' the Inspector mumbled, passing a hand through his hair... V n prep/adv
5 verb If you pass something to someone, you take it in your hand and give it to them.
(=hand)
Ken passed the books to Sergeant Parrott... V n to n
Pass me that bottle. V n n
6 verb If something passes or is passedfrom one person to another, the second person then has it instead of the first.
His mother's small estate had passed to him after her death... V to n
These powers were eventually passed to municipalities. be V-ed to n
...a genetic trait, which can be passed from one generation to the next. be V-ed from n to n
7 verb If you pass information to someone, you give it to them because it concerns them.
Officials failed to pass vital information to their superiors... V n to n
Pass on means the same as pass., phrasal verb
I do not know what to do with the information if I cannot pass it on... V n P
From time to time he passed on confidential information to him... V P n (not pron) to n
He has written a note asking me to pass on his thanks. V P n (not pron), Also V n P to n
8 verb If you pass the ball to someone in your team in a game such as football, basketball, hockey, or rugby, you kick, hit, or throw it to them.
Your partner should then pass the ball back to you... V n adv/prep
Dodd passed back to Flowers. V prep/adv
Pass is also a noun., n-count
Hirst rolled a short pass to Merson.
9 verb When a period of time passes, it happens and finishes.
(=go by)
He couldn't imagine why he had let so much time pass without contacting her... V
Several minutes passed before the girls were noticed. V
10 verb If you pass a period of time in a particular way, you spend it in that way.
The children passed the time playing in the streets... V n -ing/adv
To pass the time they sang songs and played cards. V n
11 verb If you pass through a stage of development or a period of time, you experience it.
(=go)
The country was passing through a grave crisis... V through n
12 verb If an amount passes a particular total or level, it becomes greater than that total or level.
(=exceed)
They became the first company in their field to pass the £2 billion turn-over mark. V n
13 verb If someone or something passes a test, they are considered to be of an acceptable standard., (Antonym: fail)
Kevin has just passed his driving test... V n
I didn't pass. V
14 n-count A pass in an examination, test, or course is a successful result in it., (Antonym: fail)
An A-level pass in Biology is preferred for all courses...
15 verb If someone in authority passes a person or thing, they declare that they are of an acceptable standard or have reached an acceptable standard.
Several popular beaches were found unfit for bathing although the government passed them last year... V n
The medical board would not pass him fit for General Service. V n adj
16 verb When people in authority pass a new law or a proposal, they formally agree to it or approve it.
The Estonian parliament has passed a resolution declaring the republic fully independent... V n
17 verb When a judge passes sentence on someone, he or she says what their punishment will be.
Passing sentence, the judge said it all had the appearance of a con trick... V n
18 verb If you pass comment or pass a comment, you say something.
I don't really know so I could not pass comment on that... V n
19 verb If someone or something passes for or passes as something that they are not, they are accepted as that thing or mistaken for that thing.
Children's toy guns now look so realistic that they can often pass for the real thing... V for/as n
...a woman passing as a man. V for/as n
20 verb If someone passes water or passes urine, they urinate.
A sensitive bladder can make you feel the need to pass water frequently. V n
21 n-count A pass is a document that allows you to do something.
I got myself a pass into the barracks...
22 n-count; n-in-names A pass is a narrow path or route between mountains.
The monastery is in a remote mountain pass.
24 If someone makes a pass at you, they try to begin a romantic or sexual relationship with you.
INFORMAL
make a pass phrase V inflects, usu PHR at n
Nancy wasn't sure if Dirk was making a pass at her.
25
→
to pass the buck
→
buck
→
to pass judgment
→
judgment pass away phrasal verb You can say that someone passed away to mean that they died, if you want to avoid using the word `die' because you think it might upset or offend people.
He unfortunately passed away last year. V P pass by phrasal verb If you pass by something, you go past it or near it on your way to another place.
I see them pass by my house every day... V P n
They were injured when a parked car exploded as their convoy passed by. V P pass off phrasal verb If an event passes off without any trouble, it happens and ends without any trouble.
The main demonstration passed off peacefully... V P adv/prep pass off as phrasal verb If you pass something off as another thing, you convince people that it is that other thing.
He passed himself off as a senior psychologist... V n P P n
I've tried to pass off my accent as a convent school accent. V P n (not pron) P n
...horse meat being passed off as ground beef. be V-ed P P n (not pron) pass on
1 phrasal verb If you pass something onto someone, you give it to them so that they have it instead of you.
The Queen is passing the money on to a selection of her favourite charities... V n P to n
There is a risk of passing the virus on... V n P
The late Earl passed on much of his fortune to his daughter... V P n (not pron) to n
Tenants remain liable if they pass on their lease. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you pass on costs or savings to someone else, you make them pay for your costs or allow them to benefit from your savings.
They pass on their cost of borrowing and add to it their profit margin... V P n (not pron)
I found we could make some saving and it is right to pass the savings on to the customer. V n P to n, Also V n P, V P n (not pron) to n
3 phrasal verb You can say that someone passed on to mean that they died, if you want to avoid using the word `die' because you think it might upset or offend people.
(=pass away)
He passed on at the age of 72. V P
1 phrasal verb If you pass out, you faint or collapse.
He felt sick and dizzy and then passed out... V P
2 phrasal verb When a police, army, navy, or air force cadet passes out, he or she completes his or her training.
(BRIT)
He passed out in November 1924 and was posted to No 24 Squadron. V P pass over
1 phrasal verb If someone is passed overfor a job or position, they do not get the job or position and someone younger or less experienced is chosen instead.
usu passive
She claimed she was repeatedly passed over for promotion... be V-ed P for n
They've been rejected, disappointed, ignored, passed over. be V-ed P
2 phrasal verb If you pass over a topic in a conversation or speech, you do not talk about it.
He largely passed over the government's record... V P n
They seem to think her crimes should be passed over in silence. be V-ed P pass up phrasal verb If you pass up a chance or an opportunity, you do not take advantage of it.
The official urged the government not to pass up the opportunity that has now presented itself... V P n (not pron)
`I can't pass this up.' She waved the invitation. V n P
