passing

[ pas-ing ]

adjective

1. going by or past; elapsing:

   He was feeling better with each passing day.

2. brief, fleeting, or fortuitous; transitory:

   to take a passing fancy to something.

3. done, given, etc., in passing; cursory:

   a passing mention.

4. surpassing, preeminent, or extreme.
5. indicating satisfactory performance in a course, on a paper, in a test, etc.:

   a passing grade on a test.

6. living or being known as a member of a racial, religious, or ethnic group other than one's own, especially living and being known as a white person although of Black ancestry:

   Employees with a passing racial identity expressed frequent discomfort in the workplace.

7. Sometimes Offensive. being known or perceived as a gender other than the one assigned at birth:

   Passing women who dress and live as men have existed throughout history.

   The environment might be safer for a passing trans man than for someone who is obviously transgender.

adverb

1. surpassingly; exceedingly; very.

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that passes or causes something to pass.
2. a means or place of passage.

passing

/ ˈpɑːsɪŋ /

adjective

1. transitory or momentary

   a passing fancy

2. cursory or casual in action or manner

   a passing reference

adverb

1. archaic.
   to an extreme degree

   the events were passing strange

noun

1. a place where or means by which one may pass, cross, ford, etc
2. a euphemism for death
3. in passing
   by the way; incidentally

   he mentioned your visit in passing

Other Words From

• pass·ing·ly adverb
• pass·ing·ness noun
• un·pass·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of passing¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; pass + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; pass + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in passing, by the way; incidentally:

   The speaker mentioned his latest book in passing.

Example Sentences

Hitler himself is said to have called Grant’s book, “The Passing of the Great Race,” about European racial superiority, “my bible.”

From Salon

The April 2026 start for the policy means they may not have time to make use of existing rules to skip inheritance tax by passing on an asset seven years before death.

From BBC

The ball popped from one side to the other, the Lakers creating open threes off crisp passing, forceful cuts and colliding screens.

From Los Angeles Times

In his first two years, when the Democrats had control of the House and the Senate, Biden enjoyed succeeded in passing the American Rescue plan, the Investment and Jobs Act and the Chips and Science Act.

From BBC

HSE inspector Aimie Baker said her words "make clear the impact the passing of Paul has had and our thoughts remain with her and her family".

From BBC

Related Words

• cursory
• fleeting
• superficial