passing
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a polite way to talk about someone's death.
n.a euphemistic term for death or the end of a person's life.
Simple“The family held a small service to mark the passing of their grandfather.”
In context“The community gathered to mourn the passing of a local leader who had dedicated decades to public service.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' followed by a person's name or title.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the act of moving from one place to another or going past something.
n.the act of moving past a point or the transition from one state to another.
Simple“She watched the passing of the ships from her window by the sea.”
In context“The steady passing of the seasons brought a predictable rhythm to life in the remote mountain village.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the official process of a government approving a new law or bill.
n.the formal legislative approval of a bill, motion, or resolution.
Simple“The passing of the new environmental law was celebrated by activists.”
In context“The passing of the controversial bill required a two-thirds majority in the senate after weeks of intense debate.”
UsageCommonly used in political and legal contexts regarding legislation.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.when someone is accepted as a member of a different social group than the one they were born into.
n.the ability of a person to be regarded as a member of an identity group or category different from their own.
Simple“The book explores the history of racial passing in the early twentieth century.”
In context“Sociologists study the phenomenon of passing to understand how individuals navigate rigid social hierarchies and identity boundaries.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
n.the act of hitting or throwing a ball to a teammate.
n.the action of transferring the ball or puck to another player on the same team.
Simple“The team's quick passing made it very difficult for the defenders to keep up.”
In context“The coach emphasised accurate passing and spatial awareness during the final training session before the championship match.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.lasting for only a short time, or done very quickly without much attention.
adj.brief, ephemeral, or cursory; lacking depth or permanence.
Simple“He made a passing comment about the weather and then changed the subject.”
In context“The report only gave a passing mention to the budget issues, focusing instead on the project's successes.”
- 07 B1 Intermediate
adj.going past a particular place or person.
adj.moving past or by a specific location or observer.
Simple“She waved at the passing cars from her front porch.”
In context“The cyclist was nearly knocked over by the wind from a passing truck on the narrow highway.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 08 C2 Proficiency
adv.an old-fashioned way to say 'very' or 'extremely'.
adv.surpassingly or greatly; used as an intensifier in older literature.
Simple“The view from the castle tower was passing fair.”
In context“In the ancient tale, the knight encountered a maiden who was described as passing strange in her manner and dress.”
Synonyms
“Passing an exit while remaining in the outside lane can result in an on-the-spot fine of €60 to €300.”
“Photograph: Mark McEvoy “I was very aware of all these different lives just passing each other, different backgrounds, ages, groups, tribes.”
From pass + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.