# pass around

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pass-around
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to give something to one person in a group, who then gives it to the next person. You use this so everyone can see or use the same thing.

For teachers: to distribute an item or information sequentially among a group of people. The verb is transitive and typically takes a physical object as its direct object.

## Examples

- Please pass around these cookies so everyone can have one.
- The manager asked us to pass around the card so everyone could sign it for Sarah's birthday.
- While the professor lectured on ancient pottery, he began to pass around a genuine Roman shard, cautioning the students to handle the artifact with extreme care.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Please pass around of the documents." but "Please pass around the documents." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- You can place the object either after 'around' or between 'pass' and 'around'.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'pass out', which means to distribute individual copies to everyone, whereas 'pass around' often involves sharing a single item.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.