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pass

v.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpæs// UK //pˈɑːs// pass Archaic General-service Humorous Slang

v. to move past something or someone, or to go from one place to another. You also use it when you succeed in a test or give something to another person.

v. to move past a point or person; to undergo a test or examination successfully. Transitive when an object is moved or a test is cleared; intransitive when describing general movement or the passage of time.


SIMPLE

Please pass me the salt.

CONTEXTUAL

The blue car tried to pass the slow truck on the narrow mountain road.

COMPLEX

While many students feared the final exam would be too difficult, the majority managed to pass with flying colors after attending the extra study sessions.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

* As an English surname, from a pet form of the medieval name Passe, itself probably a pet form of Pascal. * As a German surname, from the noun Pass (“pass, passageway”). * As a Jewish surname, from Polish pas (“belt, girdle”). * Also as an English surname, from Middle English passe, referring to passages. Compare Passage.

Usage

The verb is transitive when it means to hand something to someone or to succeed in a test; it is intransitive when referring to the movement of time.

Pitfall

I passed at the examI passed the examPass is transitive when referring to exams; it does not require a preposition like 'at' or 'in'.

Idioms14 entries

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