# pass through

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to travel through a place while you are on your way to somewhere else, usually without staying for a long time.

For teachers: to travel through a location or region as a transit point toward a final destination. It can be used intransitively or with a direct object representing the place.

## Examples

- We pass through this small village every day on our way to work.
- Many tourists pass through this small village every summer, but very few actually stop to stay the night.
- The migratory birds pass through the wetlands twice a year, utilizing the area as a critical resting point during their transcontinental journey.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We passed through of the city." but "We passed through the city." — The word 'through' acts as the preposition here, so you do not need to add 'of' after it.

## Usage notes

- You can use it alone or follow it with the name of the place you are traveling through.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'visit' to show that 'pass through' means you do not plan to stay or explore much.

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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.