passing

/ˈpæsɪŋ/

• Noun
• the act of moving toward and beyond something
1. I could hear the passing of a distant train. [=I could hear a distant train passing]
• a person's death
1. After her husband's passing, she moved to a smaller house.
2. We all mourned his passing.
• the act of officially approving a bill, law, etc.
1. the passing [=passage] of the bill through Congress

• in a brief way while discussing something else
1. She mentioned in passing that she was studying law.
2. The report notes the incident only in passing.
• moving past someone or something
1. Someone called out from a passing car.
2. She sells flowers to passing motorists.
3. a passing ship/airplane/train
• lasting for only a short time
1. Let's hope that these shoes are just a passing fad.
2. a passing phase in childhood
• done or made quickly
1. He made a few passing [=cursory] remarks about his work at the hospital.
2. We gave the restaurant a passing [=quick] glance before moving on.
3. She never gave the matter more than a passing thought.
4. Her assistants get only a passing mention at the end of the article.
• not very strong or thorough
1. She has only a passing acquaintance with the subject.
2. I admit that I have only a passing interest in sports.
3. You can see a passing resemblance between him and his father.
• showing that you completed a test or class in an acceptable way
1. She completed the class with a passing grade/mark of 65 percent.
• relating to the skill of throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball or puck to a teammate
1. shooting and passing skills
2. The football team needs to improve its passing game. [=its ability to pass the ball]