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Pass Very Common

Pass has 48 different meanings across 4 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

(baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls

"he worked the pitcher for a base on balls"

2

(military) a written leave of absence

"he had a pass for three days"

3

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

"the coach sent in a passing play on third and long"

4

the location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks

"we got through the pass before it started to snow"

5

any authorization to pass or go somewhere

"the pass to visit had a strict time limit"

6

a document indicating permission to do something without restrictions

"the media representatives had special passes"

7

a flight or run by an aircraft over a target

"the plane turned to make a second pass"

8

a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

"After losing his job and facing eviction, he finally realized just how tough a pass he had fallen into."

9

a difficult juncture

"a pretty pass"

"matters came to a head yesterday"

10

one complete cycle of operations (as by a computer)

"it was not possible to complete the computation in a single pass"

11

an automatic advance to the next round in a tournament without playing an opponent

"he had a bye in the first round"

12

a permit to enter or leave a military installation

"he had to show his pass in order to get out"

13

a complimentary ticket

"the star got passes for his family"

14

a usually brief attempt

"he took a crack at it"

"I gave it a whirl"

15

(sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team

"the pass was fumbled"

16

success in satisfying a test or requirement

"his future depended on his passing that test"

"he got a pass in introductory chemistry"

17

An opening, road, or track, available for passing; especially, one through or over some dangerous or otherwise impracticable barrier such as a mountain range; a passageway; a defile; a ford.

"After completing his community service hours, the principal decided to give James a pass instead of suspending him from school."

18

A password (especially one for a restricted-access website).

19

Initialism of positive alternative to school suspension.

In plain English: A pass is a ticket or permission slip that lets you enter somewhere without paying.

"The class passed with flying colors."

Usage: In everyday usage, this term refers to a formal permit allowing a student to remain in school instead of facing suspension or expulsion. It is typically granted when a minor infraction occurs and serves as a warning rather than a punitive break from the classroom.

Verb
1

go across or through

"We passed the point where the police car had parked"

"A terrible thought went through his mind"

2

move past

"A black limousine passed by when she looked out the window"

"He passed his professor in the hall"

"One line of soldiers surpassed the other"

3

make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation

"They passed the amendment"

"We cannot legislate how people spend their free time"

4

pass by

"three years elapsed"

5

place into the hands or custody of

"hand me the spoon, please"

"Turn the files over to me, please"

"He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers"

6

stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point

"Service runs all the way to Cranbury"

"His knowledge doesn't go very far"

"My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"

"The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets"

7

travel past

"The sports car passed all the trucks"

8

come to pass

"What is happening?"

"The meeting took place off without an incidence"

"Nothing occurred that seemed important"

9

go unchallenged; be approved

"The bill cleared the House"

10

use up a period of time in a specific way

"how are you spending your summer vacation?"

11

pass over, across, or through

"He ran his eyes over her body"

"She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"

"He drew her hair through his fingers"

12

transmit information

"Please communicate this message to all employees"

"pass along the good news"

13

disappear gradually

"The pain eventually passed off"

14

go successfully through a test or a selection process

"She passed the new Jersey Bar Exam and can practice law now"

15

be superior or better than some standard

"She exceeded our expectations"

"She topped her performance of last year"

16

accept or judge as acceptable

"The teacher passed the student although he was weak"

17

allow to go without comment or censure

"the insult passed as if unnoticed"

18

transfer to another; of rights or property

"Our house passed under his official control"

19

pass into a specified state or condition

"He sank into nirvana"

20

throw (a ball) to another player

"Smith passed"

21

be inherited by

"The estate fell to my sister"

"The land returned to the family"

"The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead"

22

cause to pass

"She passed around the plates"

23

grant authorization or clearance for

"Clear the manuscript for publication"

"The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography"

24

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

"She died from cancer"

"The children perished in the fire"

"The patient went peacefully"

"The old guy kicked the bucket at the age of 102"

25

eliminate from the body

"Pass a kidney stone"

26

To change place.

"He passed from the front row to the back seat during the movie."

27

To move or be moved from one place to another.

"The train finally passed through the long tunnel and emerged into bright sunlight."

In plain English: To pass something means to move by it without stopping or touching it.

"I will pass you the salt please."

Usage: Use "pass" to indicate moving from one location to another or going by something without stopping, such as when you pass a friend on the street. Do not use it to mean failing a test; instead, say that you failed the exam.

Adjective
1

of advancing the ball by throwing it

"a team with a good passing attack"

"a pass play"

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"The Pass family has owned the vineyard for three generations."

Example Sentences
"The class passed with flying colors." noun
"The bus has not yet arrived at this pass on the mountain road." noun
"He needed to make a quick dash for the river's narrow pass before nightfall." noun
"This old stone pass connects our village with the neighboring town." noun
"I will pass you the salt please." verb
See Also
football throw button skip go test up move
Related Terms
football throw button skip go test up move post elapse excurse depart cyanuria vote of no confidence trickle down white while one timer bean ball intentional walk
Antonyms
flunk fail be born running
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
accomplishment leave football play location permission flight situation juncture cycle concession license ticket attempt throw success travel ordain advance transfer be succeed convey disappear excel evaluate let change move change hands permit change state exhaust
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
forward pass lateral pass spot pass col defile saddleback safe-conduct boarding card hall pass ticket-of-leave desperate straits centering break through squeak by transit traverse infiltrate run cut crash muscle transgress negotiate lock make cycle fumble skirt run by fly by zip by fly give slip deal hand over release entrust come radiate go far underrun get by clear break arise result intervene transpire supervene proceed fall anticipate develop recur go off come around happen befall concur backfire chance turn out synchronize soldier slum weekend vacation serve while away sojourn winter summer rub thread plant send a message relay get across request telecommunicate acknowledge carry render message breeze through pass off pass through approbate certificate approve declare license commission validate abort suffocate buy it drown predecease starve succumb sweat exude urinate evacuate stool vomit

Origin

The word "pass" comes from the Latin word for a step, which entered Middle English via Old French. It eventually replaced the native Old English word *genġan to mean moving through or beyond something.

Rhyming Words
ass jass sass wass nass mass lass tass gass bass vass dass kass yass cass hass blass crass unass glass
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