passing

/ˈpæsɪŋ/

/ˈpɑsɪŋ/

Other forms: passings

Something that's passing happens very quickly. If you give someone a passing glance, you look so briefly in their direction that you barely see them.

Passing is one of those versatile words with many different uses. A passing reference is a light, brief mention of something, and a passing grade is one that's high enough for you to pass a test. As a noun, passing often means "the end of something," like the passing of an era — while the passing of a person means death. When you talk about something "in passing," you mention it in a casual way.

Definitions of passing

1. adjective

   lasting a very short time
   “a passing fancy”

   synonyms: ephemeral, fugacious, short-lived, transient, transitory

   impermanent, temporary

   not permanent; not lasting
2. adjective

   hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
   “a passing glance”

   synonyms: casual, cursory, perfunctory

   careless

   marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
3. noun

   the end of something
   “the passing of winter”

   type of:

   end, final stage, last

   the concluding parts of an event or occurrence
4. noun

   euphemistic expressions for death
   “thousands mourned his passing”

   synonyms: departure, exit, expiration, going, loss, release

   type of:

   death, decease, demise, expiry

   the event of dying or departure from life
5. noun

   (American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
   “the coach sent in a passing play on third and long”

   synonyms: pass, passing game, passing play

   types:

   aerial, forward pass

   a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer

   lateral, lateral pass

   (American football) a pass parallel to the line of scrimmage or away from an opponent's goal line

   spot pass

   a pass to a designated spot on the field; the receiver should arrive at that spot the same time the ball does

   flare, flare pass

   a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines

   screen pass

   a short forward pass in which the receiver is protected by a screen of blockers

   type of:

   football play

   (American football) a play by the offensive team
6. adjective

   of advancing the ball by throwing it
   “a team with a good passing attack”

   synonyms: pass

   antonyms:

   running

   of advancing the ball by running
7. noun

   success in satisfying a test or requirement
   synonyms: pass, qualifying

   antonyms:

   failing

   failure to reach a minimum required performance

   type of:

   success

   an attainment that is successful
8. adjective

   allowing you to pass (e.g., an examination or inspection) satisfactorily
   “a passing grade”

   synonyms:

   satisfactory

   giving satisfaction
9. noun

   the motion of one object relative to another
   “stellar passings can perturb the orbits of comets”

   synonyms: passage

   type of:

   motion, movement

   a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
10. noun

    going by something that is moving in order to get in front of it
    “she drove but well but her reckless passing of every car on the road frightened me”

    synonyms: overtaking

    type of:

    reordering

    a rearrangement in a different order
11. noun

    a bodily reaction of changing from one place or stage to another
    synonyms: passage

    type of:

    reaction, response

    a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent
12. adverb

    to an extreme degree
    synonyms: exceedingly, extremely, super