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.
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Recent Examples of passes
CBS News,
29 June 2026
There’s a southern route that goes through the waters off Oman; a second route, which was used before the war, passes through the middle of the strait; and a third route further north is controlled by Iran.
—
Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Being able to recreate these recipes passes down traditions.
—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
Park visitors could still purchase park passes at entrance stations as long as backup power systems remain operational, but park officials said visitors should come prepared.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The most exciting player might be Michael Olise, who dribbles and passes with playground flair.
—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Trump’s portrait was added to National Parks passes early this year, placing him next to George Washington on the Resident Annual Pass.
—
Antonio Pequeño Iv,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Babcock is a possession coach; Bouchard’s brilliant passes tape-to-tape out of the defensive zone are textbook starters for rushes up the ice.
—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Cost of closing the Strait of Hormuz The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil usually passes, has had worldwide economic consequences.
—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 June 2026
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Road tripping in Europe is no longer just about scenic roads, mountain passes and postcard villages.
—
Emese MacZko,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Brilliant start undermined The first half hour of the match was played at the pace Ivory Coast desired with Les Elephants using their high press and long passes to consistently put Norway on its heels.
—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
The historic railway follows a 1898 Gold Rush route from Skagway through mountain passes, waterfalls, and dramatic cliffside scenery.
—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
When asked for a common thread in their losses to the Diamondbacks, Vitello pointed to the quantity of free passes.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 June 2026
The lefty, who needed 37 pitches to get through the fourth due to Cabrera’s flub and three free passes, logged five innings, two runs (0 earned), four walks and six strikeouts over 96 pitches.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
Arrive two to three hours before kickoff to avoid heavy delays, and buy parking passes early since day-of credit card lots are limited and more expensive.
—
System Process,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
The tickets included passes to board one of the charter buses Miami-Dade County is providing for FIFA.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2026
Verb
That's after the state passes its budget, which will determine how much Jersey City will receive.
—
CBS News,
29 June 2026
There’s a southern route that goes through the waters off Oman; a second route, which was used before the war, passes through the middle of the strait; and a third route further north is controlled by Iran.
—
Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Being able to recreate these recipes passes down traditions.
—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
Park visitors could still purchase park passes at entrance stations as long as backup power systems remain operational, but park officials said visitors should come prepared.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The most exciting player might be Michael Olise, who dribbles and passes with playground flair.
—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Trump’s portrait was added to National Parks passes early this year, placing him next to George Washington on the Resident Annual Pass.
—
Antonio Pequeño Iv,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Babcock is a possession coach; Bouchard’s brilliant passes tape-to-tape out of the defensive zone are textbook starters for rushes up the ice.
—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Cost of closing the Strait of Hormuz The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil usually passes, has had worldwide economic consequences.
—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 June 2026
Noun
Zico played some good passes, but he was also shackled well by Italy’s legendary man-marker Claudio Gentile.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Road tripping in Europe is no longer just about scenic roads, mountain passes and postcard villages.
—
Emese MacZko,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Brilliant start undermined The first half hour of the match was played at the pace Ivory Coast desired with Les Elephants using their high press and long passes to consistently put Norway on its heels.
—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
The historic railway follows a 1898 Gold Rush route from Skagway through mountain passes, waterfalls, and dramatic cliffside scenery.
—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
When asked for a common thread in their losses to the Diamondbacks, Vitello pointed to the quantity of free passes.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 June 2026
The lefty, who needed 37 pitches to get through the fourth due to Cabrera’s flub and three free passes, logged five innings, two runs (0 earned), four walks and six strikeouts over 96 pitches.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
Arrive two to three hours before kickoff to avoid heavy delays, and buy parking passes early since day-of credit card lots are limited and more expensive.
—
System Process,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
The tickets included passes to board one of the charter buses Miami-Dade County is providing for FIFA.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes
Verb
-
Picking tomorrow’s outfit tonight, when no clock is running, hands your morning self a decision that is already made.
-
His own ideal already hands workers a fortune.
Verb
-
Santorini stops being only a view and starts behaving like a place again.
-
Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
Verb
-
The set up leaves California vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of the stock market, dramatic swings in revenue and, in recent years, reliant on poor projections.
-
Durica said the event that shaped the world leaves behind much more than a board game and a marvel of engineering.
Verb
-
Until Congress enacts a uniform national ban on partisan gerrymandering, the amendment’s advocates argue New York shouldn’t fight with its hands tied behind its back.
-
Instead, the measure freezes corporate net operating loss and enacts taxes on social media companies, digital assets, fantasy sports, tobacco and sports betting on prediction market websites.
Verb
-
At its core, the play examines what happens when loyalty to an institution collides with a commitment to the truth, as a young lawyer risks his career to challenge powerful military leaders and expose wrongdoing within the ranks.
-
At Cosmedica, the price is built to remove the small logistics that make a foreign trip stressful, and most of the planning happens before a patient lands.
Verb
-
The uranium used in nuclear fuel undergoes an enrichment process to increase the levels of the more radioactive U-235 form.
-
The trailer teases Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular creature, who undergoes an intense transformation that leaves the townspeople terrified.
Verb
-
Halfway through, Mando is captured by Clone Wars’ bounty hunter Embo, who was voiced by Filoni on the show but never utters so much as a single line of dialogue here.
-
Yet Cornelius Krull, the patriarch, speaks only a German dialect and never utters more than two words.
Verb
-
Like many of the people camped outside their families’ homes in Venezuela, Mendoza refuses to believe they are gone until the last moment possible.
-
The result is heat that builds, amplifies and refuses to break, often setting records on the way.
Cite this Entry
“Passes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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