passed the night

USAGE SUMMARY

"passed the night" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to spend the night or to stay overnight. Example: After missing her train, Sarah had to pass the night at a hotel near the train station.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

When morning comes they pray that they passed the night successfully.

BBC

The insurgents passed the night behind their intrenchments, and resolved, on the following morning, to deal with the doctors as they had dealt with the carts.

The Economist

She passed the night in terrible pain, but there was no blood.

The New Yorker

He passed the night at an unrevealed village and is expected to arrive today in Vienna.

The New York Times

Porter, she realized, could be from Mars for all he grasped of the creature with whom he'd passed the night.

The New Yorker

On the 28th the ridge camp was established at 27,900 feet (8,500 metres) by Hillary, Tenzing, Lowe, Gregory, and Ang Nyima, and Hillary and Tenzing passed the night there.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Society passed the afternoon automobiling.

The New York Times

We passed the evening at the casually elegant L'Italia restaurant.

The New York Times - Travel

The kids passed the afternoon watching TV, but they soon grew anxious.

The New Yorker

Fawlty Europe ReprintsSeven parties passed the 5% threshold to get into parliament.

The Economist

The singalong was not his speed, so Harold Silvers passed the morning in the day care center.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passed the night" to emphasize the experience of spending the night in a particular place or condition. It can highlight a sense of duration or a notable event during that time.

Common error

Avoid using "passed the night" when a simpler phrase like "spent the night" is more appropriate. "Passed the night" often carries a subtle connotation of enduring or experiencing something significant during that time, so consider whether that nuance aligns with your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passed the night" functions as a verb phrase, describing the action of spending the night. It often implies a specific experience or condition during that time. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing how people spent the night in various circumstances.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "passed the night" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase meaning to spend the night, often implying a specific experience or condition. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as a verb phrase and is found most frequently in news and media contexts. While ""spent the night"" is a more general alternative, "passed the night" is useful for emphasizing what occurred or how someone felt during that time. Although not extremely common, it maintains a place in formal and neutral writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spent the night

This alternative directly replaces "passed" with "spent", maintaining the original meaning.

stayed overnight

This phrase is more concise, replacing "passed the night" with a single adverb.

endured the night

This alternative emphasizes the difficulty or unpleasantness of spending the night.

whiled away the night

This suggests a leisurely or relaxed way of spending the night.

saw out the night

This implies a sense of waiting or enduring until the end of the night.

passed the evening

This alternative narrows down the time frame to the evening.

passed the time until morning

This alternative explicitly states the purpose of the activity as waiting for morning.

remained until morning

This option focuses on the act of staying in one place until the morning.

occupied oneself during the night

This alternative shifts the focus to the activities performed during the night.

hunkered down for the night

This suggests seeking shelter and preparing for a potentially difficult night.

FAQs

What does "passed the night" mean?

"Passed the night" means to have spent the duration of the night, often implying a particular experience or condition during that time.

Is it better to say "spent the night" or "passed the night"?

Both phrases are correct, but "spent the night" is more general. Use "passed the night" when you want to emphasize the experience or circumstances of the night. Consider the context; for example, you might say "She "spent the night" at a hotel", but "They "passed the night" in fear during the storm".

What are some alternatives to "passed the night"?

Some alternatives include "stayed overnight", ""spent the night"", or "endured the night", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "passed the night" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "passed the night" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when you wish to highlight a particular experience or situation during the night. However, ensure it fits the overall tone and register of your piece.