passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "passing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb to describe the action of one object going past another object, or as an adjective to describe something that is fleeting or temporary. Example sentence: The passing parade of people on the street gave me a sense of life's great journey.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Eventually we got water in plastic containers, which we are passing around the carriage.

The Guardian

In September, I emailed: Since you've chosen not to publish based on the information we have and we're not actively pursuing any more information, then I think it's reasonable to conclude that The Star is passing on this story.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Real Madrid fans to get behind "key player" Gareth Bale after the Wales international came under fire for going for goal instead of passing during Saturday's Primera División win over Espanyol.

The Guardian - Sport

"Mare Nostrum is working exactly as we worked in the last year and we are not passing on our activity to someone else.

The Guardian

Not one moment of this long day on the road had been spent in the traditional hitching pose: waving signs or thumbs at passing motorists.

The Guardian - Travel

This will stop the hacker seeing anything useful as it will all be garbled nonsense passing over the network.

The Guardian - Tech

Dave Smith, the group's spokesman, said: "Hopefully by the BSG applying for core participant status, we will be able to guarantee that spying on trade unions and passing over information to private companies becomes a theme within the Pitchford inquiry".

The Guardian

Former Labour deputy leader John Prescott – deputy at the time of the 2003 war – said in his tribute on Twitter that Kennedy had been vindicated on Iraq: "So sad to hear of Charles Kennedy's passing.

The Guardian

I wasn't expecting that!" Get those jobs done It's easy to forget just how much time is passing when you're browsing Facebook, or watching videos on YouTube.

The Guardian

On the banks of the Drava, the 16th-century Water Tower (Usnjarska 10) is now a romantic wine bar with live jazz and passing swans.

The Guardian - Travel

A crew from the Chiswick RNLI station were passing along the river when they noticed the Oxford boat was in difficulties.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "passing" to describe the act of moving something from one person to another, consider the connotation. It can imply a casual or informal transfer.

Common error

Avoid using "passing" when "past" is required to indicate a previous time or location. "Passing" describes the action of going by, while "past" refers to something that has already occurred or a place beyond a certain point.

Linguistic Context

The term "passing" functions as a verb, adjective, and noun depending on the context. It denotes movement, transfer, or occurrence. As Ludwig AI shows, it is primarily used to describe the action of moving something or someone from one point to another or the occurrence of an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Travel

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing" is a versatile term functioning as a verb, adjective, and noun to describe movement, transfer, or occurrence. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent usage in News & Media and Sport contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While generally grammatically correct, it's important to avoid confusion with "past" and to consider the implied connotation in specific contexts. Utilizing alternatives like ""going by"" or ""moving along"" can provide greater precision depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going by

Focuses on the act of moving past a specific point or location.

moving along

Suggests continued progression or movement forward.

transpiring

Emphasizes the occurrence or happening of an event or situation.

handing over

Highlights the act of transferring something from one person to another.

traversing

Describes the act of traveling across or through an area.

giving

Implies the act of bestowing or providing something.

expiration

Refers specifically to the termination or end of something.

authorizing

Highlights the granting of permission or approval.

enacting

Focuses on the process of making a law or regulation.

death

Specifically refers to the end of life.

FAQs

How can I use "passing" in a sentence?

The word "passing" can be used in various contexts. For example, "The car was "going by" quickly", or "She mentioned it in "fleeting comment"".

What are some alternatives to the word "passing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like ""going by"", "traversing", or "death".

Is it correct to say "passing by" or just "passing"?

Both "passing by" and "passing" can be correct, depending on the context. "Passing by" emphasizes the act of going near something, while "passing" can be used more broadly to mean moving past or transferring.

What's the difference between "passing" and "past"?

"Passing" is the continuous form of the verb "pass", indicating an ongoing action. "Past" refers to something that has already happened or a previous time. For example, "He is "moving along" the stadium" vs "in the "previous" year".