passing
passing — noun
1. sending the ball to another player on the same side during play.
sending the ball to another player on the same side during play.
Coach Lin praised the team's passing after the 3-0 win.
the team's passing
Poor passing gave the other side the ball again.
good/poor passing
Taipei United's passing looked sharp throughout the first half of Saturday's match.
A quick passing move opened space near the goal.
- distribution
used especially in football for how a player sends the ball to others
- ball movement
a broader phrase that can include players moving as well as the ball
- build-up play
wider than passing alone because it includes the team's attacking shape
文法句型
good passing
poor passing
quick passing move
the team's passing
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and common in team-sport talk. It often describes the overall quality or style of moving the ball, not one single pass.
常見錯誤
2. handing an item from one person to another.
handing an item from one person to another.
The passing of the bread around the table took a minute.
the passing of + noun
A nurse watched the passing of clean towels to each room.
the passing of + noun + to + person/place
During class, Mia stopped the passing of notes to Ben.
Workers formed a line for the passing of bricks to the roof.
文法句型
the passing of something
the passing of something to someone
用法筆記
Most often appears in the pattern 'the passing of X to Y'. It usually refers to physical objects being moved by hand from one person to another.
常見錯誤
3. a judge's formal statement of the punishment for a crime.
a judge's formal statement of the punishment for a crime.
The victim's family attended the passing of sentence on Friday.
fixed phrase: the passing of sentence
Reporters waited outside court for the passing of sentence.
The passing of sentence was delayed after police found a new video.
Silence filled Court 4 before the passing of sentence on the driver.
- sentencing
the usual modern legal noun for this process
- judgment
can include the court's decision itself, not only the punishment stage
- pronouncement
very formal and focuses on the public announcement
文法句型
the passing of sentence
delay the passing of sentence
用法筆記
Largely fixed in the legal phrase 'the passing of sentence'. It is formal and mainly appears in court reporting rather than everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
4. formal approval that turns a bill or measure into law.
formal approval that turns a bill or measure into law.
The minister welcomed the passing of the new housing bill.
the passing of + bill/law/measure
Crowds gathered outside Parliament after the passing of the law.
Months of debate led to the passing of a new tax law on online sales.
Small business groups opposed the passing of the late-night delivery measure.
文法句型
the passing of a bill
the passing of a law
the passing of a measure
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'of' plus 'bill', 'law', or 'measure'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about official approval, not physically handing something over.
常見錯誤
5. success in reaching the mark needed in a test or course.
success in reaching the mark needed in a test or course.
Lena's passing of the driving test surprised even her brother.
someone's passing of + exam/test
Their passing of the final exam earned a family dinner.
Jin celebrated his passing of the math course with noodles.
After months of study, Rosa's passing of the test felt unreal.
- success
much broader and not limited to tests or courses
- qualification
often names the result gained after passing, not the act itself
- completion
can mean finishing something even without meeting the required standard
- failure
means not reaching the needed mark or standard
文法句型
someone's passing of the test
passing of the exam
passing of the course
用法筆記
Often follows a possessive, as in 'her passing of the test'. It names success in meeting a required standard, unlike sense 4, which is about a law being approved.
常見錯誤
6. movement that carries someone or something past another thing.
movement that carries someone or something past another thing.
The train's passing shook cups on the kitchen shelf.
the passing of a vehicle / object
The dog barked at the passing of a runner in red shoes.
at the passing of + person
We waited for the passing of the bus before crossing.
The close passing of the truck made Noah step back.
- passage
more general and can also mean a route, section of text, or trip
- going by
an everyday phrase rather than a formal noun
- overtaking
narrower because it specifically means moving ahead of another vehicle
文法句型
the passing of a train
at someone's passing
close passing
用法筆記
Can be countable or uncountable and is often used with vehicles, people, or moments of moving by. Distinguish from noun sense 7, which is about time reaching a point, and noun sense 8, which means a brief remark.
7. the end of a stated period of time.
the end of a stated period of time.
After the passing of ten days, the hotel kept Mia's full deposit.
after the passing of + period
After the passing of one year, the farm lease ended by itself.
after the passing of + period
Upon the passing of thirty days, Maya lost the right to return the coat.
After the passing of the first month, Nia could cancel without a fee.
- expiry
common for a time limit or legal period coming to an end
- lapse
often used for the ending of time or of a right because time has run out
- completion
broader and can mean finishing a task as well as a period ending
- beginning
the point where the period starts instead of ends
文法句型
after the passing of + period
upon the passing of + period
用法筆記
Mostly used in formal phrases such as 'after the passing of' or 'upon the passing of' followed by a time period. Distinguish from noun sense 9, which describes time moving on in general rather than one period reaching its end.
常見錯誤
8. a quick remark made while another subject is being discussed.
a quick remark made while another subject is being discussed.
Lena mentioned the broken window only in passing at lunch.
fixed phrase: in passing
The teacher referred to Paris in passing before starting the map lesson.
refer to something in passing
Marcus said in passing that his sister might move to Kaohsiung.
During the interview, the coach brought up retirement in passing.
- aside
can also mean a comment directed quietly to one side in drama or conversation
- side comment
more informal and less fixed than 'in passing'
- incidental mention
more formal and emphasizes that the point was not the main topic
- main topic
the subject being discussed in full rather than briefly
文法句型
in passing
mention something in passing
say in passing that-clause
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'in passing', often after verbs like 'say', 'mention', 'refer to', or 'bring up'. Distinguish from noun sense 6, which is physical movement past something, and noun sense 7, which is about a period ending.
常見錯誤
9. time continuing forward as days, months, and years go by.
time continuing forward as days, months, and years go by.
The passing of time softened their anger after the family fight.
the passing of time
Old photos show the passing of time in the fishing village.
With the passing of years, the shop became a family museum.
For children at beach camp, the passing of summer feels too fast.
- passage of time
the closest formal equivalent
- flow of time
more literary and stresses smooth movement
- aging
narrower because it focuses on growing older rather than time in general
文法句型
the passing of time
with the passing of years
用法筆記
Most often appears in the set phrase 'the passing of time' or with longer periods such as 'years'. Distinguish from noun sense 7, which points to one period reaching its end, not time's general movement.
常見錯誤
10. someone's death, or the ending of a period, custom, or way of life.
someone's death, or the ending of a period, custom, or way of life.
Neighbors gathered after the passing of the village doctor.
the passing of someone
The museum marked the passing of the old theater with photos.
Her speech honored the passing of the village's old rice-farming tradition.
Many fans still mourn the passing of Rosa Lee.
文法句型
the passing of someone
the passing of an era
用法筆記
Commonly used as a gentle or respectful way to mention death, and it also extends to the ending of eras, institutions, or traditions. Distinguish from noun sense 9, which is neutral about time moving on.
常見錯誤
11. the practice of being seen and treated as a member of another group, especially
the practice of being seen and treated as a member of another group, especially another race, often deliberately.
At the office, Clare's passing as white helped her keep the job.
passing as white
Her research examines racial passing in Chicago housing during the 1940s.
racial passing
The novel follows a jazz singer whose passing hides her family history.
At the train station, his passing as white kept guards from stopping him.
- disguise
broader and can be temporary or playful, without social-group identity at issue
- impersonation
usually means pretending to be a particular person or type, not living under another group identity
文法句型
racial passing
passing as + group
用法筆記
Usually discussed in historical, literary, or social contexts, often with race named directly, as in 'racial passing'. It focuses on how other people classify the person, not simply on private identity.
常見錯誤
passing — adjective
1. moving past a person or place at that moment.
moving past a person or place at that moment.
A passing cyclist splashed rainwater onto Nina's coat outside the bakery.
before noun: passing + person
The dog barked at every passing truck on the narrow village road.
Lena waved to a passing boat from the wooden bridge.
A passing nurse noticed smoke under the clinic door.
- moving
the broad everyday word, without the idea of going by a particular point
- travelling
stresses being on a journey rather than passing nearby
- going by
an informal phrase that focuses on movement past someone or something
- stationary
not moving from one place
文法句型
passing + vehicle/person/thing
用法筆記
Usually before a noun naming someone or something seen moving by, especially a vehicle or a person noticed for only a moment.
常見錯誤
2. short and not meant to be important, complete, or careful.
short and not meant to be important, complete, or careful.
During lunch, Emma made a passing remark about moving to Tainan.
collocation: passing remark
The doctor gave the cut a passing glance before washing it.
collocation: passing glance
Leo's passing interest in guitar ended after two weekend lessons.
At the meeting, the mayor made only a passing reference to the flood.
- brief
the general word for something short in time or length
- casual
often suggests little effort or little seriousness
- superficial
stronger, stressing lack of depth or care
文法句型
passing + remark/glance/interest/reference
用法筆記
Common with nouns such as 'remark', 'glance', 'interest', and 'reference'. Distinguish from sense 3 (TIME GOING BY): this sense is about something brief or slight, not about time itself moving on.
常見錯誤
3. used for time that is moving on and becoming the past.
used for time that is moving on and becoming the past.
In the passing years after college, Mei saw her friends less often.
passing + years for time moving on
The passing days felt slower after Owen broke his leg.
Grandpa marked each passing month on the kitchen calendar.
The town changed with every passing season beside the river.
- coming
still ahead in time rather than moving into the past
文法句型
passing + days/years/months/season
用法筆記
Usually modifies nouns for periods of time, such as 'days', 'months', or 'years'. Distinguish from sense 2 (BRIEF): here the focus is on time continuing to move away from the present.
常見錯誤
4. reaching the lowest score or quality needed to pass.
reaching the lowest score or quality needed to pass.
Mina earned a passing grade after rewriting the last essay.
collocation: passing grade
His report got a passing mark from the safety inspector.
collocation: passing mark
One more correct answer would give Leo a passing score.
The machine met the passing standard during yesterday's factory test.
- adequate
meeting the basic need, often without suggesting anything better
- acceptable
good enough to be allowed or approved
- satisfactory
slightly more formal and often used in school or work reports
- failing
below the level needed to pass
- inadequate
not good enough for the required standard
文法句型
passing + grade/mark/score/standard
用法筆記
Usually before nouns like 'grade', 'mark', 'score', or 'standard'. It refers to the minimum acceptable result, not to doing especially well.
常見錯誤
passing — adverb
1. used before an adjective to mean 'very', especially in literary language.
used before an adjective to mean 'very', especially in literary language.
The path looked passing narrow beside the fast brown river.
passing + adjective
To Maya, the empty school hall felt passing strange at night.
literary intensifier before adjective
The soup was passing hot, so Ben waited before the first spoonful.
Her last question sounded passing serious during the family meal.
- very
the normal everyday intensifier
- extremely
common and strong in modern English
- exceedingly
formal and close in tone to this rare use
文法句型
passing + adjective
用法筆記
Mostly found in older or literary style, not normal everyday speech. It usually comes directly before an adjective, and modern English more often uses 'very' or 'extremely' instead.