pass away

verb

passed away; passing away; passes away
Synonyms of pass awaynext

intransitive verb

1
: to go out of existence
2

Examples of pass away in a Sentence

the old woman passed away quietly
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
It’s meant to be much more than an art exhibit and is curated so as to present the artists — some of whom have passed away — as prominently as their art. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026 Betancourt helped shape both brothers from a young age and passed away earlier this year, leaving behind a legacy that echoes through their personalities. Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 But López-Calleja passed away unexpectedly in 2022 from a heart attack. Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026 People come, people pass away, and then people come. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass away

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass away was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pass away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20away. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

pass away

verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pass away

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster