Passing

Passing is a term with multiple meanings in English. As a general concept, it refers to the act of moving beyond something, or transferring something from one person or place to another. The sense of passing can apply to physical movement, time, or social roles and statuses.

In physical movement, passing can mean overtaking another person or vehicle, or simply moving past an obstacle. In sports, a pass is a deliberate transfer of a ball or puck to a teammate to maintain possession or create a scoring opportunity.

In everyday life, people speak of passing time, meaning to endure or occupy time until a future event, and of passing a test or examination, meaning to achieve a passing score or meet a requirement.

In death, “passing away” is a common euphemism for dying; it is used to soften the finality of death and is widely understood in many English-speaking contexts.

In social and historical contexts, “passing” describes a person being perceived as a member of a different group, such as a person of mixed race presenting as a member of a dominant racial group, or a transgender person presenting as the gender they identify with. This phenomenon raises questions about identity, discrimination, safety, and legal status, and is a topic in sociology, history, and ethics.