passing

19 synonyms and 2 antonyms for passing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Lasting only briefly; temporary.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

temporary brief going release loss pass exit passage departure

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

fleeting transient expiration qualifying

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

momentary short-lived transitory overtaking passing play passing game

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Lasting only briefly; temporary.

“It was just a passing fad, nothing serious.”

fleeting temporary brief momentary transient short-lived transitory going release loss pass exit passage departure expiration overtaking qualifying passing play passing game

Opposites

running

2. noun

Death, or the end of something.

“The whole town mourned his passing.”

overtaking qualifying passage release pass going departure loss expiration exit

Opposites

failing

How to use passing

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a passing thought in passing his passing passing accuracy

Etymology

From pass plus the suffix -ing.

Full origin of passing →

Frequently asked questions

What does “passing” mean?

The word “passing” means lasting only briefly; temporary. In plain terms, can describe something brief and fleeting, a death, or the action of passing something along.

How do you pronounce “passing”?

“Passing” is pronounced PAH-sihng (/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “passing” in a sentence?

Here is “passing” used in a sentence: “It was just a passing fad, nothing serious.”

What part of speech is “passing”?

Depending on how it is used, “passing” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “passing” a common word?

“Passing” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “passing” have?

“Passing” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lasting only briefly; temporary.

What is the difference between passing and permanent?

Passing means lasting only a short time and then gone, such as a passing mood or a passing trend. Permanent means lasting indefinitely and meant to stay. They are opposites on the scale of duration: a passing interest fades quickly, while a permanent one endures. Passing stresses how brief something is.

What is the difference between passing and fleeting?

The two are close in meaning, and both describe something short-lived. Fleeting stresses extreme brevity, gone almost at once, like a fleeting glance. Passing is a little softer, suggesting something temporary that comes and goes, such as a passing phase. Both contrast with anything lasting or permanent.

What is an example of passing in this sense?

A passing remark is a comment made briefly, in passing, without dwelling on it. A passing craze is a fad that fades fast. A passing shower is brief rain that soon clears. In each case, passing signals that the thing is temporary and will not last long.

Related words

buck-passing continuation passing style continuation-passing style in passing passing bell passing grade passing loop passing note passing off passing place passing shot passing show passing tone passing-bell

People also searched

going running release loss pass brief temporary exit passage departure failing qualifying

Nearby words

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