Pass Meaning, Definition, and Synonyms

Pass is a very common English word with many meanings. It can mean to move by something, to succeed in a test, to hand something over, to send information, or to go through a place or stage. It is also used for several nouns, such as a document that allows entry or a short attempt.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /pæs/

Easy pronunciation: PASS (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable, stressed.

Primary sense: verb meaning to move past or go by.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pass Meaning

to go by someone or something; to travel past

Part of speech: verb

Definition: move past

Example: A black limousine passed by when she looked out the window.

Synonyms for this meaning:

go by — Natural substitute when something moves past a place or person.
go past — Direct and natural for moving past something.
pass by — Common phrasal verb for moving past.
travel by — Works when the focus is on moving past during travel.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Pass

Meaning 2

to get rid of waste from the body

Part of speech: verb

Definition: eliminate from the body

Example: This sense is usually used in medical or formal language.

Synonyms for this meaning:

egest — Technical term for expelling waste.
eliminate — Broader term; works in this bodily sense only in formal contexts.
excrete — Standard biological term.

Meaning 3

to officially allow something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: grant authorization or clearance for

Example: The officer passed the shipment after checking the papers.

Synonyms for this meaning:

authorise — British spelling; same meaning.
authorize — Direct synonym in official contexts.
clear — Works when the meaning is to approve or allow through.

Meaning 4

a quick try

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a usually brief attempt

Example: Give it a pass and see if you can hit the target.

Synonyms for this meaning:

crack — Common informal synonym for a try.
fling — Informal, but can mean a brief attempt.
go — Very common in the sense of an attempt or try.
offer — Can work in phrases like 'have a go'/'make an offer', but is less direct.
whirl — Informal, used for a quick attempt.

Meaning 5

a successful result on a test

Part of speech: noun

Definition: success in satisfying a test or requirement

Example: He got a pass in introductory chemistry.

Synonyms for this meaning:

passing — Close match for successful completion.
qualifying — Works when the result is meeting a standard or requirement.

Meaning 6

to happen

Part of speech: verb

Definition: come to pass

Example: What passed here overnight?

Synonyms for this meaning:

come about — Natural synonym for something happening.
fall out — Used in a more formal or older style.
go on — Can mean happen in some contexts, but is less precise.
hap — Old-fashioned or literary.
happen — Direct everyday synonym.
occur — Common and precise.
pass off — Works when something happens or develops in a certain way.
take place — Very common and natural.

Meaning 7

used for throwing the ball in a game

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: of advancing the ball by throwing it

Example: They built the offense around a strong passing game.

Synonyms for this meaning:

passing — Standard form used with football or similar games.

Meaning 8

to die

Part of speech: verb

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

Example: Her grandfather passed away last year.

Synonyms for this meaning:

buy the farm — Slang; not suitable in formal use.
cash in one's chips — Informal slang.
choke — Can mean die in slang, but is not a general synonym.
conk — Informal slang.
croak — Slang.
decease — Formal synonym.
die — Direct everyday synonym.
drop dead — Informal and often rude.
exit — Euphemistic or humorous.
expire — Formal, commonly used in official contexts.
give-up the ghost — Old-fashioned or literary.
go — Can mean die in informal speech, but is not specific.
kick the bucket — Idiomatic and informal.
pass away — Common euphemism.
perish — Formal or literary.
pop off — Informal slang.
snuff it — Very informal slang.

Meaning 9

a paper that lets someone do something or go somewhere

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a document indicating permission to do something without restrictions

Example: The media representatives had special passes.

Synonyms for this meaning:

laissez passer — A formal travel or entry permit.

Meaning 10

to move something from one person or place to another

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause to pass

Example: She passed around the plates.

Synonyms for this meaning:

make pass — Less common, but works in this causative sense.

Meaning 11

to be better than a standard or limit

Part of speech: verb

Definition: be superior or better than some standard

Example: This score passes the required minimum.

Synonyms for this meaning:

exceed — Direct synonym when something is above a standard.
go past — Works in the sense of moving beyond a limit.
overstep — Works when going beyond a boundary or limit.
top — Common informal synonym.
transcend — More formal, often abstract.

Meaning 12

to tell or send information to someone

Part of speech: verb

Definition: transmit information

Example: Please pass along the good news.

Synonyms for this meaning:

communicate — Broad but valid when the meaning is to share information.
pass along — Very natural for passing information on.
pass on — Common and natural in this sense.
put across — Works when the meaning is to explain or convey information.

Meaning 13

to be accepted or allowed without objection

Part of speech: verb

Definition: go unchallenged; be approved

Example: The motion passed without debate.

Synonyms for this meaning:

clear — Works for getting approved or accepted.

Meaning 14

to move through or across something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: pass over, across, or through

Example: The river passes through the valley.

Synonyms for this meaning:

draw — Only fits in some formal or literary uses.
guide — Not a direct synonym in most contexts.
run — Common when something extends or flows through an area.

Meaning 15

to give or hand something to someone

Part of speech: verb

Definition: place into the hands or custody of

Example: Please pass me the salt.

Synonyms for this meaning:

give — Works in many everyday contexts.
hand — Very natural when giving something directly.
pass on — Common when handing something to another person.
reach — Works in some contexts, but less direct.
turn over — Works when handing responsibility or possession to someone else.

Meaning 16

a throw to a teammate

Part of speech: noun

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

Example: The pass was fumbled.

Synonyms for this meaning:

flip — Can be used for a casual throw, but not always a sports pass.
toss — Common for a thrown ball, though slightly broader than pass.

Meaning 17

to become a certain way or enter a condition

Part of speech: verb

Definition: pass into a specified state or condition

Example: The patient passed into a deep sleep.

Synonyms for this meaning:

lapse — Works for entering a state or condition.
sink — Can work in figurative uses.

Meaning 18

to approve a law or bill officially

Part of speech: verb

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

Example: They passed the amendment.

Synonyms for this meaning:

legislate — Directly related to making law; close in this context.

Meaning 19

a very bad or hard situation

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a difficult juncture

Example: They were in a pretty pass after the storm.

Synonyms for this meaning:

head — Old-fashioned and limited in use.
straits — Common in the sense of difficulty or trouble.

Meaning 20

to extend across a distance or time

Part of speech: verb

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

Example: The highway passes through three counties.

Synonyms for this meaning:

extend — Direct match for stretching across space or time.
go — Fits in some contexts, especially in phrases.
lead — Works when something extends toward or to another place.
run — Common for roads, lines, and boundaries.

Meaning 21

a military permission slip

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a permit to enter or leave a military installation

Example: He had to show his pass in order to get out.

Synonyms for this meaning:

liberty chit — Military slang or informal term.

Meaning 22

to go by or move past

Part of speech: verb

Definition: pass by

Example: Minutes passed by while we waited.

Synonyms for this meaning:

elapse — Often used with time.
glide by — Natural for time or something moving smoothly past.
go along — Can work in some contexts, though less direct.
go by — Very common when time or something moves past.
lapse — Works especially for time passing.
slide by — Natural and common.
slip away — Often used for time or opportunities.
slip by — Very natural for time passing unnoticed.

Meaning 23

a hard or troubled situation

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

Example: The company is in a bad pass right now.

Synonyms for this meaning:

strait — Used for a difficult situation, often in the plural.
straits — Common in the phrase 'in straits'.

Meaning 24

to go past while moving

Part of speech: verb

Definition: travel past

Example: The sports car passed all the trucks.

Synonyms for this meaning:

overhaul — Used when a moving vehicle catches up with and goes past another.
overtake — Very common and natural for catching and going past.

Meaning 25

to fade or go away slowly

Part of speech: verb

Definition: disappear gradually

Example: The pain eventually passed off.

Synonyms for this meaning:

blow over — Used for trouble, weather, or feelings dying down.
evanesce — Rare and literary.
fade — Common and natural.
fleet — Literary; often used for time.
pass off — Works for symptoms or feelings disappearing.

Meaning 26

a football play based on throwing the ball

Part of speech: noun

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

Example: The coach sent in a passing play on third and long.

Synonyms for this meaning:

passing game — Refers to the team’s passing style or strategy.
passing play — Direct term for this kind of play.

Meaning 27

a walk to first base

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls

Example: He got a walk after four balls.

Synonyms for this meaning:

base on balls — Official baseball term.
walk — Common baseball synonym.

Meaning 28

a gap in the mountains

Part of speech: noun

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

Example: We got through the mountain pass before it started to snow.

Synonyms for this meaning:

mountain pass — Direct and specific synonym.
notch — Can mean a mountain gap, but is less specific.

Meaning 29

moving to the next round without competing

Part of speech: noun

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

Example: She got a bye in the first round.

Synonyms for this meaning:

bye — Direct tournament term.

Meaning 30

to succeed in an exam or screening

Part of speech: verb

Definition: go successfully through a test or a selection process

Example: She passed the bar exam and can practice law now.

Synonyms for this meaning:

make it — Informal but common for succeeding.

Meaning 31

to go to someone after death or transfer

Part of speech: verb

Definition: be inherited by

Example: The estate passed to his daughter.

Synonyms for this meaning:

devolve — Formal term for passing to another by inheritance or right.
fall — Used in legal or inheritance contexts.
return — Can work when property goes back to someone by right.

Meaning 32

to spend time

Part of speech: verb

Definition: use up a period of time in a specific way

Example: We passed the afternoon reading by the lake.

Synonyms for this meaning:

spend — Direct everyday synonym for using time.

Meaning 33

a permit or permission to go somewhere

Part of speech: noun

Definition: any authorization to pass or go somewhere

Example: The pass to visit had a strict time limit.

Synonyms for this meaning:

passport — Only works in the general sense of a travel document, not as a direct synonym in all contexts.

Meaning 34

to approve someone or something as good enough

Part of speech: verb

Definition: accept or judge as acceptable

Example: The teacher passed the student although he was weak.

Meaning 35

a free ticket

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a complimentary ticket

Example: The star got passes for his family.

Meaning 36

one trip over a target by an aircraft

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a flight or run by an aircraft over a target

Example: The plane turned to make a second pass.

Meaning 37

to ignore without criticizing

Part of speech: verb

Definition: allow to go without comment or censure

Example: She passed the remark without comment.

Meaning 38

to move across or through something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: go across or through

Example: We passed the point where the police car had parked.

Meaning 39

official permission to be away from duty

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (military) a written leave of absence

Example: He had a pass for three days.

Meaning 40

one full run or cycle of work

Part of speech: noun

Definition: one complete cycle of operations (as by a computer)

Example: The computer finished the job in a single pass.

Meaning 41

to throw the ball to a teammate

Part of speech: verb

Definition: throw (a ball) to another player

Example: Smith passed to the wide receiver.

Meaning 42

to move rights or ownership to someone else

Part of speech: verb

Definition: transfer to another; of rights or property

Example: The property passed to the new owner.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pass Synonyms

Similar Meaning

go by
go past
pass by
travel by

eliminate from the body

egest
eliminate
excrete

grant authorization or clearance for

authorise
authorize
clear

a usually brief attempt

crack
fling
go
offer
whirl

success in satisfying a test or requirement

passing
qualifying

come to pass

come about
fall out
go on
hap
happen
occur
pass off
take place

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

buy the farm
cash in one's chips
choke
conk
croak
decease
die
drop dead
exit
expire
give-up the ghost
go
kick the bucket
pass away
perish
pop off
snuff it

a document indicating permission to do something without restrictions

laissez passer

cause to pass

make pass

be superior or better than some standard

exceed
go past
overstep
top
transcend

transmit information

communicate
pass along
pass on
put across

go unchallenged; be approved

clear

pass over, across, or through

draw
guide
run

place into the hands or custody of

give
hand
pass on
reach
turn over

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

flip
toss

pass into a specified state or condition

lapse
sink

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

legislate

a difficult juncture

head
straits

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

extend
go
lead
run

a permit to enter or leave a military installation

liberty chit

pass by

elapse
glide by
go along
go by
lapse
slide by
slip away
slip by

a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

strait
straits

travel past

overhaul
overtake

disappear gradually

blow over
evanesce
fade
fleet
pass off

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

passing game
passing play

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

base on balls
walk

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

mountain pass
notch

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

go successfully through a test or a selection process

make it

be inherited by

devolve
fall
return

use up a period of time in a specific way

spend

any authorization to pass or go somewhere

passport

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Do not mix up pass meaning 'move past' with pass meaning 'succeed in a test'.
Do not confuse pass as a verb with pass as a noun for a permit, ticket, or mountain gap.
Pass can also mean 'die' in the euphemism pass away, but that is a different sense.
In sports, pass may mean a throw, not just general movement.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pass mean in simple English?

Pass can mean to move by something, to give something to someone, to succeed in a test, or to let something go through. It has many different senses.

What are the most common synonyms for pass?

For the basic moving-by sense, common synonyms are go by, go past, and pass by. Other senses have different synonyms, such as die for pass away or authorize for the approval sense.

Is pass always a verb?

No. Pass can be a verb or a noun. As a noun, it can mean a permit, a free ticket, a sports throw, or a mountain gap.

What is the difference between pass and pass by?

Pass by is often the same as pass in the sense of moving past something. Pass is broader and can also mean many other things, such as succeeding in a test or handing something over.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.