1
as in hands
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another could you please pass me the phone?
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Relevance
2
as in stops
to come to an end eventually, the storm passed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in leaves
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out
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4
as in enacts
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech
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5
as in happens
to take place and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
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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
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7
as in utters
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
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8
as in refuses
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
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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
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1
as in canyons
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter
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2
as in routes
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel take the second pass on the right
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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
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2
3
as in accomplishments
the state of being actual or complete eventually, all their career goals came to pass
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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
Steve Kopack, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, and the global energy crisis threatened to deepen as the war is now in its eighth week. —Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan. —Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026 Get ready for an amazing sight, as the waxing crescent moon passes in front of — and briefly occults —the blue-white stars of the Pleiades on April 19. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-third of global seaborne fertilizer trade passes through the strait, according to the United Nations. —George Petras, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 Beltway alphabet agencies now impose 22 rules for every law that Congress passes and the president signs, the CEI report found. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026 Miles projects as a commanding dynamo who will cause havoc with her ability to play at a high tempo in transition, move the ball quickly in the half-court offense and deliver no-look passes from any angle. —Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. —Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026
Irene Wright, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026 Plummer has completed 70% of his passes (56-of-79) for 671 yards and six touchdowns. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 Those three have combined for 66,876 yards passing as pros — more than 27,000 more than any other school’s draftees from 2016-25 — 428 touchdown passes and 289 starts. —Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 Monthly passes would rise from $23 to $28 this fall and then to $30 in fall 2027. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 Chaz said that, as of last week, over 1,000 passes have been sold to the festival. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026 In those four passes, maybe 20 seconds elapsed. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026 The season passes are also a great deal compared to a single night in a Great Wolf standard room ($171-$431) or a premium suite ($383-$1,199). —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026 For a bouquet of two dozen daffodils each week of daffodil season, Shickasheen offers picking passes at $35 per person. —Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
Of particular concern is the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway off Iran, where more than 20% of the world's oil supply normally passes. —Steve Kopack, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, and the global energy crisis threatened to deepen as the war is now in its eighth week. —Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan. —Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026 Get ready for an amazing sight, as the waxing crescent moon passes in front of — and briefly occults —the blue-white stars of the Pleiades on April 19. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 Apr. 2026 Roughly one-third of global seaborne fertilizer trade passes through the strait, according to the United Nations. —George Petras, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 Beltway alphabet agencies now impose 22 rules for every law that Congress passes and the president signs, the CEI report found. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026 Miles projects as a commanding dynamo who will cause havoc with her ability to play at a high tempo in transition, move the ball quickly in the half-court offense and deliver no-look passes from any angle. —Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. —Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
These passes are limited for the employees of local businesses. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026 Plummer has completed 70% of his passes (56-of-79) for 671 yards and six touchdowns. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 Those three have combined for 66,876 yards passing as pros — more than 27,000 more than any other school’s draftees from 2016-25 — 428 touchdown passes and 289 starts. —Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 Monthly passes would rise from $23 to $28 this fall and then to $30 in fall 2027. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 Chaz said that, as of last week, over 1,000 passes have been sold to the festival. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026 In those four passes, maybe 20 seconds elapsed. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026 The season passes are also a great deal compared to a single night in a Great Wolf standard room ($171-$431) or a premium suite ($383-$1,199). —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026 For a bouquet of two dozen daffodils each week of daffodil season, Shickasheen offers picking passes at $35 per person. —Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
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But its sense of Kevin’s journey from a shy, kept cat to one ready for whatever life hands him is clear, a North Star to guide all the otherwise enjoyable chaos.— Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
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The church hands the bags out to people and also prepares it through its food kitchen and at shelters several times a month.— Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once the larger transfer is sent, the account suddenly stops responding.— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
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The grinder is operated with one touch and automatically stops when your grounds are ready to go.— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That leaves only right-hander Jacob Webb and left-handers Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar as veteran relievers for Counsell.— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
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That leaves Washington at a strange juncture, with widespread agreement among lawmakers that something should be done to address the issue of prediction markets.— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the federal government enacts the Basic Coordination plan, the bureau will keep scrambling to make emergency decisions to ensure Powell and Mead are operable.— Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
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However, the ruthless King Saran (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) has suppressed magic users and enacts a rule of terror, which Zelie hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha’s clans.— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When that happens — and only when that happens — Tillis will be on board and Warsh will sail through his committee and Senate floor votes, given the GOP majority in the chamber.— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
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The goal was to get the ball out of Brunson’s hands and see what happens next.— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Portage Township Schools’ metrics for No Place for Hate will get a new baseline next year as the district undergoes a major realignment.— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
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The timing of the announcement comes as UPS undergoes yet another year of staff cuts.— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The phrase also sometimes is used as a battle cry and has been employed by those with a nefarious agenda to instill fear of anyone who utters it and to raise concerns about Islam itself, according to Muslim scholars and civil rights advocates.— Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
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Falduto utters the words as his character Billy to Dewey, playing the opinionated student who becomes the stylist for the band.— Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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That ire has only grown as Takaichi repeatedly refuses to walk back her position, and scooped up a historic victory in a snap election because of it.— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
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But what elevates the play into something truly great is that Lindsay-Abaire refuses to make Elliott a conventional villain.— Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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