passed

Everyday

1. (literal) went past; moved by something. tree →
2. (literal) succeeded in a test or exam. tree →
3. (literal) gave something to someone (passed the salt). tree →
4. (euphemism, polite, mostly US) died (short for passed away). tree →
5. (literal) time went by. tree →

In the lessons

In the death sense, Americans especially say «he passed» to talk about death gently; in all other senses it is an everyday verb. Everyday register; the death sense is polite, mainly USA, now spreading.

Examples

• We passed the school on the way home. tree →
• She passed her maths test! tree →
• Can you pass the salt, please? tree →
• His dad passed when he was little. tree →
• Three hours passed before the rain stopped. tree →
• Grandma passed peacefully in her sleep. tree →
• He passed the ball to his teammate. tree →
• Many years passed by after this. tree →

Note

Do not confuse «passed» (verb) with «past» (noun, adjective, preposition: in the past, walked past). «He passed» alone can mean died — check the context before saying «Congratulations!». Plain word for the death sense: died.

In Jewish tradition

In the death sense, Americans especially say «he passed» to talk about death gently; in all other senses it is an everyday verb. Everyday register; the death sense is polite, mainly USA, now spreading.

Examples

• And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. (Torah DEU.2.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. (Torah GEN.12.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• So the present passed over before him; and he himself lodged that night in the camp. (Torah GEN.32.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Unto whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them. (Writings JOB.15.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor hath the lion passed thereby. (Writings JOB.28.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Ehud escaped while they lingered, having passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. (Prophets JDG.3.26, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Do not confuse «passed» (verb) with «past» (noun, adjective, preposition: in the past, walked past). «He passed» alone can mean died — check the context before saying «Congratulations!». Plain word for the death sense: died.