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passing JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈpæsɪŋ/ · pas.sing
verb
  1. To change place. The tourists were passing through the city on their way to the beach.
  2. To change in state or status. The company is passing from private to public ownership.
  3. To move through time. The years are passing quickly, and I'm getting older.
noun
  1. Death, dying; the end of something. The passing of my grandmother was a difficult time for our family.
  2. The fact of going past; a movement from one place to another or a change from one state to another. The passing of the seasons brings new life to the garden.
  3. The act of approving a bill etc. The bill passed with a majority vote in the Senate.
adjective
  1. That passes away; ephemeral. The passing beauty of the sunset is a wonder to behold.
  2. Pre-eminent, excellent, extreme. The passing of the new law is a significant achievement.
  3. Vague, cursory. The passing comment about the weather was not very helpful.
adverb
  1. Surpassingly, greatly. The team played passing football, scoring many goals in the game.
Did you know? The phrase 'passing the buck' originated in the 19th century, when a card player would pass a buck (a marker) to the next player, avoiding responsibility for a bad hand.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 17, 2026