passing out

USAGE SUMMARY

"passing out" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone losing consciousness or fainting. Example: After running the marathon, she felt dizzy and ended up passing out. Alternative expressions include "fainting" and "losing consciousness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

I am passing out.

The New Yorker

I'm near passing out.

The New York Times

People were passing out.

The New York Times

She seemed close to passing out.

The New York Times - Travel

in danger of passing out.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That was why I kept passing out!

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I felt myself passing out," he said.

The New Yorker

Lucy is terrified to the point of passing out.

The New York Times - Books

And volunteering in the campaign--passing out fliers, door-knocking". .

Huffington Post

"The queues are so long that people are passing out.

The Guardian

Some people insist on passing out healthier treats like raisins.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "passing out" to describe loss of consciousness, consider the context. "Fainting" or "losing consciousness" may be more appropriate in formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "passing out" when you mean simply feeling unwell or tired. "Passing out" specifically refers to a temporary loss of consciousness. For instance, saying "I was passing out from the heat" is inaccurate if you only felt lightheaded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing out" functions primarily as a verb phrase, specifically the present participle of the phrasal verb "pass out". It indicates an ongoing action of losing consciousness or distributing something, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

15%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing out" is a common and generally correct verb phrase with two primary meanings: losing consciousness or distributing items. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives like "losing consciousness" or "distributing" might be preferred in academic or professional settings. Pay attention to the context to ensure accurate usage, avoiding confusion with merely feeling unwell.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fainting

A more concise term for losing consciousness.

losing consciousness

A more formal and clinical way of saying "passing out".

blacking out

Implies a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness.

collapsing

Suggests a more dramatic and sudden loss of consciousness, often due to physical weakness.

giving out

Implies a gradual weakening before losing consciousness.

distributing

Used when "passing out" refers to handing out items.

handing out

A more casual way of saying distributing.

giving away

Implies distributing something for free.

doling out

Suggests distributing something sparingly or reluctantly.

succumbing

Implies giving in to an overwhelming force or condition, leading to loss of consciousness.

FAQs

What does "passing out" mean?

The phrase "passing out" generally means to lose consciousness or faint. It can also refer to distributing items to a group of people.

What's another way to say "passing out" (losing consciousness)?

Alternatives for "passing out" when referring to losing consciousness include "fainting", "losing consciousness", or "blacking out".

How should I use "passing out" in a sentence?

You can use "passing out" in a sentence like: "She was so nervous that she felt like she was going to start "passing out" before the interview", or "The volunteers were "passing out" water bottles to the marathon runners".

When is it more appropriate to use "fainting" instead of "passing out"?

"Fainting" is generally more formal and suitable for medical or professional contexts, whereas "passing out" is more informal and commonly used in everyday conversation. So, while "passing out" is perfectly appropriate and can be used in almost any situation, prefer the use of "fainting" in professional or medical context.