passing

/'pɑ:siɳ/

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The word "passing" can be used in different ways in English. Let’s break it down to understand it better.

Basic Definition

1. Adjective: When we use "passing" as an adjective, it means something that is done quickly and without paying much attention to detail. For example, if you give something a "passing glance," you only look at it briefly without really examining it.
   • Example: "She took a passing glance at the report before the meeting."

Usage Instructions

• As an Adjective: Use "passing" to describe something that is not thorough or careful.
• As a Noun: Use "passing" to refer to the act of succeeding in something, like a test, or to describe the act of one object moving past another.

Advanced Usage

• In Sports: In American football, "passing" refers specifically to the play where a player throws the ball to a teammate.
  • Example: "The team is known for their effective passing strategy."

Word Variants

• Pass (verb): To move by something or to succeed in a test.
  • Example: "She passed the exam with flying colors."
• Passage (noun): The act of passing or a way through something.
  • Example: "The passage of time can change many things."

Different Meanings

1. In Everyday Life: "Passing" can refer to the act of moving by something, like cars passing on the road.

   • Example: "The reckless passing of cars on the highway made her nervous."

2. In Emotions or Events: It can also mean the end of something, like the passing of winter.

   • Example: "With the passing of winter, spring brings new life."

3. Euphemism for Death: "Passing" can gently refer to someone dying.

   • Example: "They mourned his passing deeply."

Synonyms

• For the adjective meaning: cursory, hasty, superficial.
• For the noun meaning: success, approval, clearance.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

1. Passing fancy: A temporary or short-lived interest.

   • Example: "His interest in painting was just a passing fancy."

2. Pass by: To move past something without stopping.

   • Example: "She watched as the train passed by."

3. Let it pass: To ignore something or not take action on it.

   • Example: "He decided to let it pass instead of starting an argument."

Summary

"Passing" is a versatile word that can describe something done quickly, refer to a successful outcome, or signify movement. It has various uses in everyday language, sports, and even in expressing emotions.

Academic

Adjective

1. hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
   • a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws
   • a passing glance
   • perfunctory courtesy
2. allowing you to pass (e.g., an examination or inspection) satisfactorily
   • a passing grade
3. of advancing the ball by throwing it
   • a team with a good passing attack
   • a pass play
4. lasting a very short time
   • the ephemeral joys of childhood
   • a passing fancy
   • youth's transient beauty
   • love is transitory but it is eternal
   • fugacious blossoms

Adverb

1. to an extreme degree
   • extremely cold
   • extremely unpleasant

Noun

1. success in satisfying a test or requirement
   • his future depended on his passing that test
   • he got a pass in introductory chemistry
2. going by something that is moving in order to get in front of it
   • she drove but well but her reckless passing of every car on the road frightened me
3. a bodily reaction of changing from one place or stage to another
   • the passage of air from the lungs
   • the passing of flatus
4. the end of something
   • the passing of winter
5. the motion of one object relative to another
   • stellar passings can perturb the orbits of comets
6. euphemistic expressions for death
   • thousands mourned his passing
7. (American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
   • the coach sent in a passing play on third and long

Synonyms

• casual
• cursory
• passing
• perfunctory
• pass
• ephemeral
• short-lived
• transient
• transitory
• fugacious
• extremely
• exceedingly
• super
• pass
• qualifying
• overtaking
• passage
• loss
• departure
• exit
• expiration
• going
• release
• passing play
• passing game