PASSES Synonyms: 519 Similar and Opposite Words

passes 1 of 3

verb

Definition of passes next

present tense third-person singular of pass

as in hands

to shift possession of (something) from one person to another could you please pass me the phone?

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Relevance

as in stops

to come to an end eventually, the storm passed

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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

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as in enacts

to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech

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as in happens

to take place and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted

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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

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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

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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

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as in flies

to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass

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passes

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pass

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

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as in routes

a passage cleared for public vehicular travel take the second pass on the right

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passes

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pass

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

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as in tries

an effort to do or accomplish something a final pass at the assignment

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as in accomplishments

the state of being actual or complete eventually, all their career goals came to pass

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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

Verb

Allen’s hummingbirds are year-round residents in Southern California but the rufous is a rarer visitor that passes through during spring and fall migrations while traveling between winter homes in Mexico to as far north as Alaska in the summer. —

Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 Instead, if this bill passes, families would have to drive to a breeder, probably many hours away, or even travel out of state. —

Ed Sayres, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026 Nearly 15% of global maritime trade passes the Bab al-Mandab. —

Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026 The experiment involves a metal plate with two slits, through which light passes from a coherent source such as a laser. —

David Szondy march 28, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026 About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through Suez, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics. —

ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026 About a fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran's coast, but most ships have been blocked from transiting it during the war. —

Npr Staff, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026 About 12% of the world's trade typically passes through Bab el-Mandeb and about 10% of global maritime trade - including 40% of container ship traffic - passes through the Suez Canal each year. —

CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through Bab el-Mandeb and about 10% of global maritime trade — including 40% of container ship traffic — passes through the Suez Canal each year. —

Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026

Noun

The camera cross-references the sound spike with the exact moment a vehicle passes, photographs the plate, and generates the ticket automatically. —

Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026 And the free passes have been costly. —

Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026 Prosper sat in defensively and absorbed pressure before playing some long passes to try and utilize their front-line speed to create counter sequences. —

Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026 Leadoff man Francisco Lindor took a trio of free passes and scored each time. —

CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of the world’s fertilizer passes, is putting farmers at risk of missing the spring planting season. —

Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Timed entry passes often sell out months ahead. —

Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026 The couple decided not to renew their annual passes. —

Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026 Within 24 hours of paying your invoice, your parking passes will populate in your Inter Miami CF App and Account Manager page. —

Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes

Verb

The manager who hands her team an exit map and watches most of them stay anyway has done something the board retreat, the culture consultant, and the engagement platform cannot.

— Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Turan hands me off to his roommate, Rory Carmichael, a genial 39-year-old engineer.

— Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026