TOP

Definition of passing noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

passing

noun
 
 
/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/
 
/ˈpæsɪŋ/
[uncountable]Idioms
jump to other results
  1.  
    the passing of time/the years the process of time going by
    • The colour of the wood darkens with the passing of time.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • untimely
    verb + passing
    • lament
    • mourn
    • mark
    • …
    phrases
    • the passing of the years
    • the passing of time
    See full entry
  2.  
    (formal) the fact of something ending or of somebody dying
    • When the government is finally brought down, no one will mourn its passing.
    • the passing of the old year (= on New Year’s Eve)
    • Many will mourn her passing (= her death, when you do not want to say this directly).
    Extra Examples
    • Few will mourn his passing.
    • Her death marks the passing of an era.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • untimely
    verb + passing
    • lament
    • mourn
    • mark
    • …
    phrases
    • the passing of the years
    • the passing of time
    See full entry
  3.  
    the passing of something the act of making something become a law
    • the passing of a resolution/law
    Topics Politicsc1
Idioms
in passing
  1. done or said when your main focus is something different synonym casually
    • He only mentioned it in passing and didn't give any details.
See passing in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee passing in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: passing

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day