{ "term": "pass", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "pass", "heSheIt": "passes" }, "pastSimple": "passed", "pastParticiple": "passed", "ingForm": "passing" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to achieve the required standard in an exam, a test, etc.", "sensetop": "pass something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I'm not really expecting to pass first time." }, { "text": "She **passed with flying colours** *(= very easily)*." }, { "text": "She hasn't **passed her** driving **test** yet.", "contextForm": "pass something" }, { "text": "**pass an exam/examination**" }, { "text": "Three students in the class passed with distinction." }, { "text": "Students are required to pass a weekly multiple-choice test." }, { "text": "He passed his medical exams and began to practise as a doctor." }, { "text": "We require all employees to pass a written exam." }, { "text": "She was the first woman to pass the entrance examination at the famous Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris." }, { "text": "You need 90 per cent attendance in order to pass the course." }, { "text": "Candidates must have passed at least five subjects, including English language." }, { "text": "Chinese students had to pass papers in Mandarin, English and maths." }, { "text": "Your grades in the first year don't count towards your final grade; you just have to pass." }, { "text": "I had no idea whether I'd passed or failed." }, { "text": "She passed in the following subjects: Advanced Irish, English, arithmetic, history, geography, music." } ], "topics": ["Education"] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to test somebody and decide that they are good enough, according to an agreed standard", "sensetop": "pass somebody", "cefr": "b1", "examples": [ { "text": "The examiners passed all the candidates." } ], "topics": ["Education"] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to move past or to the other side of somebody/something", "sensetop": "pass somebody/something", "labels": "(especially North American English)", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Several people were passing but nobody offered to help." }, { "text": "I hailed a passing taxi." }, { "text": "The security guard refused to let us pass." }, { "text": "to pass a barrier/sentry/checkpoint", "contextForm": "pass somebody/something" }, { "text": "You'll pass a bank on the way to the train station." }, { "text": "She passed me in the street without even saying hello." }, { "text": "Nobody has passed this way for hours." }, { "text": "There was a truck behind that was trying to pass me." }, { "text": "The road was so narrow that cars were unable to pass." }, { "text": "Several buses passed, but did not stop." }, { "text": "He pulled out to pass a truck." }, { "text": "She passed him with a fractional quickening of her pace." }, { "text": "On my way to the cinema, I passed a flower shop." }, { "text": "Will you be passing a post box on your way home?" }, { "text": "I just happened to pass a bookshop and saw it in the window." }, { "text": "Police stopped the car after it passed a red light without stopping." }, { "text": "We somehow passed the hotel without noticing it." }, { "text": "You'll pass a supermarket on your right." }, { "text": "The train passes picturesque lakes and villages." }, { "text": "I heard someone passing my bedroom door." }, { "text": "We passed several people going up the mountain as we were coming down." }, { "text": "I was just passing your house, so I thought I'd call." }, { "text": "I was just passing, so I thought I'd call." }, { "text": "We tried to take note of landmarks we passed along the way." }, { "text": "Not many strangers pass this way." }, { "text": "He passed a 30 miles per hour sign doing 120." }, { "text": "We passed the border about half an hour ago." }, { "text": "A passing freight train shook the walls." }, { "text": "A man threw something from the window of a passing car." }, { "text": "I saw no-one except a passing jogger." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to go or move in the direction mentioned", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The procession passed slowly along the street." }, { "text": "We passed through a security checkpoint." }, { "text": "A plane passed low overhead." }, { "text": "The air cools as it passes along the pipe." }, { "text": "After passing through tall gates, you follow a long curving drive." }, { "text": "We passed through the Spanish Quarter on our way here." }, { "text": "Almost 7 million people pass through the museum's doors each year." }, { "text": "The number of people passing through British airports rose 3%." }, { "text": "The train passes through a desolate industrial landscape." }, { "text": "As the water passes through, the membrane filters out most of the impurities." }, { "text": "As they passed under the bridge they heard a noise above them." }, { "text": "As water passes over rocks, it dissolves many minerals." }, { "text": "They passed down winding streets." }, { "text": "A train was passing noisily over the bridge." }, { "text": "They became used to hearing warplanes pass overhead." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to make something move in the direction or into the position mentioned", "sensetop": "pass something + adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "He passed the rope around the post three times to secure it." }, { "text": "She passed her hand across her forehead." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to give something to somebody by putting it into their hands or in a place where they can easily reach it", "sensetop": "pass somethingpass something to somebodypass somebody something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Pass the salt, please.", "contextForm": "pass something" }, { "text": "Pass that book over." }, { "text": "He passed a note to his friend.", "contextForm": "pass something to somebody" }, { "text": "Pass me the salt.", "contextForm": "pass somebody something" }, { "text": "Pass me over that book." }, { "text": "Pass my coat, would you?" }, { "text": "She passed me a plate." }, { "text": "Can you pass me that bag?" }, { "text": "Could you pass the potatoes up to this end of the table, please?" }, { "text": "He stood at the counter, passing drinks to everyone." }, { "text": "We passed the pens along the row until everyone had one." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to give somebody information or a message", "sensetop": "pass something to somebodypass something", "examples": [ { "text": "His wife had been passing information to the police.", "contextForm": "pass something to somebody" }, { "text": "They devised a method of passing secret messages.", "contextForm": "pass something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to kick, hit or throw the ball to a player of your own side", "sensetop": "pass something (to somebody)pass (to somebody)", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She **passed the ball** to Kerr.", "contextForm": "pass something (to somebody)" }, { "text": "Why do they keep passing back to the goalie?", "contextForm": "pass (to somebody)" }, { "text": "They should pass more." }, { "text": "We watched them skilfully pass, run and shoot." }, { "text": "The team caught and passed very well." }, { "text": "The ball went to Hummell, who passed to Young." }, { "text": "In basketball, the rule is that the player can't move without passing the ball (or dribbling, which is like passing to yourself)." }, { "text": "In rugby you can only pass the ball backwards." }, { "text": "He should have passed the ball to a teammate." } ], "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "when time passes, it goes by", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Almost fifty **years** have **passed** since that day." }, { "text": "Six months passed and we still had no news of them." }, { "text": "The **time passed** quickly." }, { "text": "We grew more anxious **with every passing** day." }, { "text": "The days passed uneventfully." }, { "text": "The years passed, and many people forgot what had happened that day." }, { "text": "Several months could pass without them having any contact." }, { "text": "It might be best to think about this again when a little time has passed." }, { "text": "As time passes, our views can change." }, { "text": "I realized that three hours had passed." }, { "text": "Half an hour passes, and there is still no sign of him." }, { "text": "Barely a week passes without another story breaking about sexual harassment." }, { "text": "Only a few minutes have passed and you're bored already." }, { "text": "The afternoon passed pleasantly enough." }, { "text": "The evening passed so slowly." }, { "text": "With every passing minute she became more convinced something had happened to them." }, { "text": "I love her more with each passing year." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["quickly", "rapidly", "soon"], "verb + pass": ["help (to)"] } }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "to spend time, especially when you are bored or waiting for something", "sensetop": "pass something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "We sang songs to **pass the time**." }, { "text": "How do you pass the long winter nights?" }, { "text": "She went for a walk to pass the time until dinner." }, { "text": "It's not a very exciting game, but it passes the time." }, { "text": "We passed the time chatting." }, { "text": "He found a dry barn where he passed the night." }, { "text": "She passed a sleepless night." }, { "text": "We passed an uneasy few days waiting for the results." }, { "text": "Conversation helps them pass the hours of guard duty." }, { "text": "They passed a pleasant evening telling tales and singing songs." }, { "text": "Reading is a way for prisoners to pass the long evenings when they are locked in their cells." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["quickly", "rapidly", "soon"], "verb + pass": ["help (to)"] } }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "to come to an end; to be over", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "They waited for the storm to pass." }, { "text": "It's just a phase which will eventually pass." }, { "text": "This is a record of an era **long since passed** *(= that ended a long time ago)*." }, { "text": "I felt a little dizzy at first, but that quickly passed." }, { "text": "The immediate danger seemed to have passed." }, { "text": "After the deadline passes, interest will be charged on the amount due." }, { "text": "The shock will soon pass." }, { "text": "The indignation I felt on reading this soon passed." }, { "text": "I wanted to ask a question, but the moment passed." }, { "text": "The film gives a wonderful insight into a way of life that has now passed." }, { "text": "His youthful idealism has long since passed." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 12, "definition": "to change from one state or condition to another", "sensetop": "pass from something to/into something", "examples": [ { "text": "She had passed from childhood to early womanhood." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 13, "definition": "to be given to another person after first belonging to somebody else, especially after the first person has died", "sensetop": "pass to somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "On his death, the title passed to his eldest son." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 14, "definition": "to become greater than a particular total", "sensetop": "pass something", "examples": [ { "text": "Unemployment has now **passed the** three million **mark**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 15, "definition": "to accept a proposal, law, etc. by voting; to be accepted in this way", "sensetop": "pass somethingpass (by something)", "labels": "(especially North American English)(especially North American English)", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "to **pass a bill/law/resolution**", "contextForm": "pass something" }, { "text": "The Kansas State House narrowly **passed the legislation** last year." }, { "text": "In 1996, Congress **unanimously passed** the Food Quality Protection Act." }, { "text": "The bill is expected to pass the Senate." }, { "text": "The **bill passed** by 360 votes to 280.", "contextForm": "pass (by something)" }, { "text": "New Zealand recently passed the Civil Union Act." }, { "text": "University staff passed a motion of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor." }, { "text": "Delegates unanimously passed a motion calling for a boycott." }, { "text": "The amendment passed by a vote of 57 - 40." }, { "text": "The income tax amendment was passed in 1913." }, { "text": "Parliament passed tough new security measures." }, { "text": "The country is better off because we have passed these economic reforms." }, { "text": "Any budget deal has to pass the House of Representatives." }, { "text": "The state legislature passed a law requiring public schools to offer breakfast programs." }, { "text": "They needed six more votes to pass the resolution." }, { "text": "The resolution passed unanimously." }, { "text": "Congress has failed to pass legislation that would raise the minimum wage." }, { "text": "The House of Lords is expected to pass the amendment." }, { "text": "The amendment is expected to pass." } ], "topics": ["Politics"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["unanimously", "overwhelmingly", "narrowly"], "preposition": ["by… to…"] } }, { "senseNumber": 16, "definition": "to be allowed", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "I don't like it, but I'll **let it pass** *(= will not object)*." }, { "text": "Her remarks passed without comment *(= people ignored them)*." } ], "topics": ["Permission and obligation"] }, { "senseNumber": 17, "definition": "to happen; to be said or done", "sensetop": "pass (between A and B)+ adj.", "examples": [ { "text": "They'll never be friends again after all that has passed between them.", "contextForm": "pass (between A and B)" }, { "text": "His departure **passed unnoticed**.", "contextForm": "+ adj." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["peacefully"], "verb + pass": ["come to", "let something"], "preposition": ["between"], "phrases": ["pass unnoticed"] } }, { "senseNumber": 18, "definition": "to say that you do not know the answer to a question, especially during a quiz", "sensetop": "pass (on something)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘What's the capital of Peru?’ ‘I'll have to pass on that one.’" }, { "text": "‘Who wrote ‘Catch-22’?’ ‘Pass *(= I don't know)*.’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 19, "definition": "to say that you do not want something that is offered to you", "sensetop": "pass (on something)", "examples": [ { "text": "Thanks. I'm going to pass on dessert, if you don't mind." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 20, "definition": "to say or state something, especially officially", "sensetop": "pass something", "examples": [ { "text": "The court waited in silence for the judge to **pass sentence**." }, { "text": "It's not for me to **pass judgement** on your behaviour." }, { "text": "The man smiled at the girl and passed a friendly remark." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 21, "definition": "to go beyond the limits of what you can believe, understand, etc.", "sensetop": "pass belief, understanding, etc.", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [ { "text": "It passes belief *(= is impossible to believe)* that she could do such a thing." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 22, "definition": "to refuse to play a card or make a bid when it is your turn", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 23, "definition": "to send something out from the body as or with waste matter", "sensetop": "pass something", "examples": [ { "text": "If you're passing blood you ought to see a doctor." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to happen", "labels": "(old use)", "examples": [ { "text": "How did such a disaster come to pass?" }, { "text": "I wondered how it came to pass that a thinking man bore the prejudices of his unthinking parents." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "if words do not pass your lips, you say nothing", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "if food or drink does not pass your lips, you eat or drink nothing", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to collect money from a number of people, for example to buy a present for somebody", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be accepted as of a good enough standard", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to say hello to somebody and have a short conversation with them", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to urinate", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/pɑːs/", "audio": "pa/pass/pass__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈpɑːsɪz/", "audio": "pa/pass/passes__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/pɑːst/", "audio": "pa/pass/passed__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/", "audio": "pa/pass/passing__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/pæs/", "audio": "pa/pass/pass__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈpæsɪz/", "audio": "pa/pass/passes__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/pæst/", "audio": "pa/pass/passed__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈpæsɪŋ/", "audio": "pa/pass/passing__us_2.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "verb Middle English: from Old French passer, based on Latin passus ‘pace’." }