pass
A2Neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
to move or go past something, through something, or from one state/place to another.
To succeed in a test or exam; to give something to someone; to be accepted or approved; (of time) to go by; to make a law or rule; to transfer in sports; to reach a particular point or condition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
An extremely polysemous verb and noun. The core spatial meaning of 'move past' extends metaphorically to time (time passes), tests (pass an exam), and legal/parliamentary approval (pass a law). As a noun, it often refers to a permit, a successful exam result, or a geographical feature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'pass' is the standard term for succeeding in an exam. In US English, while 'pass' is common, 'ace' is a more informal synonym. In sports, 'pass' is universal, but UK English may use 'through ball' in football for a specific type. The noun 'pass' for a mountain route is more common in UK/Commonwealth contexts (e.g., the Khyber Pass).
Connotations
Similar core connotations. 'Pass away' as a euphemism for die is slightly more formal/gentle in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties. The noun usage for an exam result is slightly more frequent in UK educational contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO (He passed the ball)SV (The bill passed)SVA (We passed through the town)SVOO (Could you pass me the butter?)SVC (She passed as an expert)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pass the buck”
- “pass muster”
- “pass away”
- “a pass for”
- “make a pass at”
- “come to pass”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The board passed the motion.' 'The invoice passed for payment.'
Academic
'The hypothesis did not pass statistical significance.'
Everyday
'Can you pass the remote?' 'Time passes so quickly.'
Technical
'The spacecraft will pass the gravitational assist point.' 'The signal passes through the amplifier.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She passed her driving test first time.
- The lorry passed us on the motorway.
- Parliament passed the new bill.
American English
- He passed the bar exam on his second try.
- A car passed us doing ninety.
- The Senate passed the bill with a veto-proof majority.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as an adverb; 'past' is used)
American English
- (Not standard as an adverb; 'past' is used)
adjective
British English
- This note is a pass forgery – it looks real but isn't. (rare/technical)
American English
- He used a pass key to enter the building.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please pass the bread.
- I walk past the park every day.
- Did you pass your English test?
- The train passed through a long tunnel.
- We passed the old castle on our hike.
- She passed her theory exam but failed the practical.
- The committee passed a resolution condemning the action.
- As the years passed, the memory faded.
- He made a clever pass to the striker, who scored.
- The legislation is expected to pass the House with bipartisan support.
- Her work passes for original scholarship, but it's heavily derivative.
- He possessed a security pass granting him access to all levels.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PASSport – you need it to PASS through a border, just as you need knowledge to PASS a test.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION (Time passes). LIFE IS A JOURNEY (Pass through life). APPROVAL IS A PATH (A bill passes through parliament).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'pass an exam' as '*сдать экзамен*' when you mean 'succeed' – use 'сдать успешно' or 'пройти'. 'Сдать экзамен' can mean simply to take it. 'Pass the salt' is not '*пропустить соль*' but 'передай соль'. 'Pass by' is often 'пройти мимо', not 'проходить'.
Common Mistakes
- *I passed in the exam. (Correct: I passed the exam.)
- *The time passed very slow. (Correct: ...very slowly.)
- *He passed me to go to the shop. (Ambiguous. Better: He went past me...)
- Confusing 'past' (preposition/adjective) with 'passed' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of time, 'pass' is closest in meaning to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Pass' is a verb (to go by). 'Past' is a preposition ('He walked past me'), an adjective ('in past times'), a noun ('the past'), or an adverb ('The car drove past'). A common mistake is writing 'He walk passed me' instead of 'He walked past me'.
No. 'Take an exam' means to sit the exam. 'Pass an exam' means to succeed in it, to get a score above the failing mark.
Yes, but 'pass away' is a gentle, respectful, or euphemistic synonym for 'die'. It's more common in formal or sensitive contexts.
Yes, informally. In a group setting, like sharing food, saying 'I'll pass' means you decline the offer. 'Pass on' is also used ('I'll pass on the dessert').