adjective
Very common
passed
pahst
Passed (adjective) means having gone by or finished, especially referring to time. Example: “The passed weeks had been quiet, and everyone felt rested.”
adjective
1
Having gone by or finished, especially referring to time.
"The passed weeks had been quiet, and everyone felt rested."
"The passed hour seemed to fly by while we played cards."
"In the passed years, the town has changed dramatically."
2
Having successfully completed a test or qualification.
"All the passed candidates will start training next month."
"Only the passed students received a certificate at the end of term."
"The passed applicants were told to return to the office next week."
How to use passed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense/past-participle form of "pass," used as an adjective for something that has gone by or been achieved.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "past" — "passed" is always a verb form ("She passed the shop"), while "past" is a noun, adjective, or preposition ("in the past," "she walked past the shop").
Easily confused with
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The _____ weeks had been quiet, and everyone felt rested.
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Rhymes for passed
See all rhymes for passed →Frequently asked questions
What does “passed” mean?
The word “passed” means having gone by or finished, especially referring to time. In plain terms, the past-tense/past-participle form of "pass," used as an adjective for something that has gone by or been achieved.
How do you pronounce “passed”?
“Passed” is pronounced pahst (/pæst/ in IPA).
How do you use “passed” in a sentence?
Here is “passed” used in a sentence: “In the passed years, the town has changed dramatically.”
What part of speech is “passed”?
“Passed” is an adjective.
Is “passed” a common word?
“Passed” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “passed” have?
“Passed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having gone by or finished, especially referring to time.
What is the difference between passed and past?
"Passed" is the past tense of the verb "to pass" and describes an action, as in "the car passed us" or "the moment has passed." "Past" is a noun, adjective, or preposition referring to a former time or position, as in "the past year" or "walked past the shop." If it's a verb, use "passed."
What is an example of passed in a sentence?
"Several years have passed since we last met" shows the time sense, where the years have gone by. Other examples include "the danger has passed" or "the deadline passed yesterday." In each case, "passed" describes something that has moved by, elapsed, or come to an end.
Is it passed time or past time?
Both exist but mean different things. "The time has passed" uses the verb, meaning time has elapsed. "It's past time" uses the adjective, meaning something is overdue. When you mean the action of time going by, use "passed"; when you mean a point already gone, use "past."
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