passing the time

USAGE SUMMARY

"passing the time" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to engage in activities or behaviors to make time go by in a more enjoyable or productive way. Example: "I spent the afternoon reading a good book, listening to music, and chatting with friends to pass the time while waiting for my flight at the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Just passing the time".

The Guardian - Music

"Just passing the time," he said.

The New York Times

We found other, less wholesome ways of passing the time.

Independent

Not that I'm interested, I was just passing the time.

The Guardian

There were three of them, chatting and passing the time.

The Guardian

"Passing the time, you know what I mean?" he said.

The New York Times

Farther down the block, two men, Sam and Bert, were passing the time.

The New Yorker

She spends her days with her fellow refugees in Zaatari, passing the time by doing embroidery.

Independent

Reading started out for me as a means of passing the time and learning the language.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's also about passing the time doing calisthenics, studying books, and fighting with other people.

Vice

On June 23rd, the cabinet issued four "emergency decrees", by-passing the time-consuming inconvenience of parliamentary debate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the tone you want to convey. "Passing the time" is generally neutral, but other options like "whiling away the hours" or "killing time" carry different connotations. Choose the phrase that best fits the context and your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "passing the time" when you actually mean making efficient use of time. The phrase implies a lack of purpose or productivity, so it's not appropriate in situations where you are actively working towards a goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing the time" functions primarily as a gerund or present participle. It describes the act of engaging in activities to make time go by. Ludwig's examples show it used in various sentence structures, indicating its flexibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing the time" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe engaging in activities to make time go by. According to Ludwig, it is primarily found in News & Media, Science, Formal & Business, and Wiki contexts. Related phrases include "whiling away the hours" and "killing time", each with slightly different connotations. When using this phrase, consider your desired tone and avoid using it when you actually mean making efficient use of time. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and common usage in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing the idle hours

Highlights the lack of activity during the time being spent.

whiling away the hours

Emphasizes a leisurely and relaxed approach to spending time.

killing the boredom

Directly addresses the reason for needing to "pass the time".

killing time

Suggests a more active, even if unproductive, way of making time pass.

engaging in leisure activities

Focuses on recreational pursuits to make the time go by.

occupying oneself

Focuses on the act of engaging in an activity to avoid boredom.

filling the void

Highlights the emptiness of the time being filled.

biding one's time

Indicates waiting patiently for an opportunity.

marking time

Implies doing something without making progress.

spending time

A general term for using time in a particular way.

FAQs

How can I use "passing the time" in a sentence?

You can use "passing the time" to describe engaging in activities to make time go by, such as "She was passing the time reading a book while waiting for her flight."

What is the difference between "passing the time" and "killing time"?

Both phrases mean to make time go by, but "killing time" often implies a more deliberate or even slightly negative approach to filling time with less meaningful activities, while "passing the time" is more neutral.

What can I say instead of "passing the time"?

You can use alternatives like "whiling away the hours", "occupying oneself", or "engaging in leisure activities depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "pass the time" instead of "passing the time"?

While "pass the time" might be grammatically correct in certain sentence structures (e.g., "Let's pass the time by playing a game"), "passing the time" is more common when used as a gerund or participle to describe the activity itself.