passage
PA-sihj
Passage (noun) means a short section of a text, speech, or piece of music. Example: “She read a passage from her favourite novel aloud.”
noun
1
A short section of a text, speech, or piece of music.
"She read a passage from her favourite novel aloud."
"The teacher asked us to underline the key passage in the story."
"The choir practised a difficult passage near the end of the song."
2
A narrow corridor or way connecting two places.
"A dark passage led from the kitchen to the cellar."
"We squeezed through a narrow passage between the two old buildings."
"The secret passage behind the bookcase led to a hidden room."
3
The act of travelling from one place to another, especially by sea.
"They booked passage on a cargo ship bound for Lisbon."
"He worked on the ship to earn his passage overseas."
"We had a smooth passage across the Channel."
4
The process by which a bill becomes law.
"The passage of the new tax bill took months of debate."
"Supporters hoped for the quick passage of the new law."
"The bill's passage through parliament required several votes."
How to use passage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan mean a stretch of text, a corridor, a journey, or a bill becoming law — context decides.
Common pairings
read a passage
narrow passage
passage of time
safe passage
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like passage.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- passages
- Third person singular
- passages
- Past tense
- passaged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She read a _____ from her favourite novel aloud.
Etymology
From Old French passage, from passer, "to pass."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for passage
See all rhymes for passage →Frequently asked questions
What does “passage” mean?
The word “passage” means a short section of a text, speech, or piece of music. In plain terms, can mean a stretch of text, a corridor, a journey, or a bill becoming law — context decides.
How do you pronounce “passage”?
“Passage” is pronounced PA-sihj (/ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “passage” in a sentence?
Here is “passage” used in a sentence: “She read a passage from her favourite novel aloud.”
What part of speech is “passage”?
“Passage” is a noun.
Where does the word “passage” come from?
The word “passage” comes from Old French. From Old French passage, from passer, "to pass.".
Is “passage” a common word?
“Passage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “passage” have?
“Passage” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short section of a text, speech, or piece of music.
What is the difference between a passage and a corridor?
Both can mean a narrow way connecting two places, but corridor usually refers specifically to a hallway inside a building. Passage is broader and can also mean a short section of a text, speech, or piece of music.
Does passage always refer to a physical space?
No. Passage can be a narrow corridor or way connecting two places, but it just as often means a short extract from a text, speech, or musical work. The intended meaning depends on the context.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include passage:
