1
as in hands
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
could you please pass me the phone?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stops
to come to an end
eventually, the storm passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in enacts
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 happens
to take place
and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in routes
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
take the second pass on the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in accomplishments
the state of being actual or complete
eventually, all their career goals came to pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Be sure to stay alert and have a safe place as well as a plan in case a severe storm passes through your area.
—Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
As such, a portion of the intake water by-passes the aquariums and combines with the final effluent.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
At future parole board hearings, the people deciding his fate would be unable to consider that behavior if the bill passes.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Walmart passes Berkshire in market value Over the past year, shares of Walmart have soared by more than 35% while both classes of Berkshire have dropped by almost 12%.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
They can be triggered by the water pressure changing when a ship passes or by the sound of its engine.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Jon Duffy, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The wildebeest migration also passes through the camp in April-May and October-November.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Plummer, who came into the game completing 70 percent of his passes in the first four games, was not himself.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
In his three seasons in the FBS, Fitzgerald produced 10 interceptions and 24 passes defensed.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Particularly the kind of speed that can result in passes 20-plus yards down the field.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Thomas was a second-team All-ACC selection, and he was named the Fiesta Bowl defensive MVP after making five tackles and deflecting two passes.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Carried the ball 169 times and caught 109 passes in college.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Chiefs 2025 third-round pick Nohl Williams, while at Cal in 2024, was also top 10 nationally in interceptions and passes defended.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Arizona State wide receiver will now head to the Big Easy and catch passes from second-year signal caller Tyler Shough.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Sophomore Nate Roberts is a 6-5, 240-pounder who has blocking experience and showed off versatility catching passes in the spring.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Be sure to stay alert and have a safe place as well as a plan in case a severe storm passes through your area.
—Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
As such, a portion of the intake water by-passes the aquariums and combines with the final effluent.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
At future parole board hearings, the people deciding his fate would be unable to consider that behavior if the bill passes.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Walmart passes Berkshire in market value Over the past year, shares of Walmart have soared by more than 35% while both classes of Berkshire have dropped by almost 12%.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
They can be triggered by the water pressure changing when a ship passes or by the sound of its engine.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Jon Duffy, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The wildebeest migration also passes through the camp in April-May and October-November.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
The runs were a result of the free passes there (back to back walks to begin the fourth).
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Plummer, who came into the game completing 70 percent of his passes in the first four games, was not himself.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
In his three seasons in the FBS, Fitzgerald produced 10 interceptions and 24 passes defensed.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Particularly the kind of speed that can result in passes 20-plus yards down the field.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Thomas was a second-team All-ACC selection, and he was named the Fiesta Bowl defensive MVP after making five tackles and deflecting two passes.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Carried the ball 169 times and caught 109 passes in college.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Chiefs 2025 third-round pick Nohl Williams, while at Cal in 2024, was also top 10 nationally in interceptions and passes defended.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Arizona State wide receiver will now head to the Big Easy and catch passes from second-year signal caller Tyler Shough.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
-
Leon has also questioned the funding mechanism, which calls on the Trust to collect hundreds of millions in private donations and turn the money over to the NPS, which then hands it off to the White House.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The single item that stops new projects is when the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) is required, with a set-aside of 20% of the units to be rented at below market prices.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And that’s where the problem stops being technical and starts being structural.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The move leaves the Seahawks with a total of six picks in the draft.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the album’s high quality across the board, Mahesh still leaves a few ends loose.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even if Florida enacts a GOP-friendlier map in a special legislative session set for April 28, the worst possible outcome from the redistricting fight now looks like a national dead heat.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Attorney General enacts California’s laws and can bring litigation against companies or the federal government on behalf of state residents.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the statute requires is that DHS solicit and receive other agencies' views; Congress left the Executive Branch to resolve how that process happens and how much detail other agencies provide.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And when that happens, voters are left to question whether the outcome of an election reflects their voice or the lines that were drawn around it.—
Dan Daley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Major ratings agencies Fitch and S&P have Paramount debt at junk status as the merger undergoes final review.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
-
This mix undergoes slow radioactive decay but is not prone to fission, the atom-splitting chain reaction that powers nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The play is dominated by Lithgow’s towering portrait of the artist as a weary old giant who refuses to concede an inch of ground.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Others rely on patience, research, and the fact that the ground itself refuses to be reduced to one easy headline.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
