# pass

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɑːs/ · frequency rank #952

## Definitions
1. To change place.
2. To change place.
3. To change place.
4. To change place.
5. To change place.
6. To change place.
7. To change place.
8. To change place.
9. To change place.
10. To change place.
11. To change place.
12. To change place.
13. To change place.
14. To change in state or status
15. To change in state or status
16. To change in state or status
17. To change in state or status
18. To change in state or status
19. To change in state or status
20. To change in state or status
21. To change in state or status
22. To change in state or status
23. To change in state or status
24. To move through time.
25. To move through time.
26. To move through time.
27. To move through time.
28. To move through time.
29. To move through time.
30. To move through time.
31. To be accepted.
32. To be accepted.
33. To refrain from doing something.
34. To refrain from doing something.
35. To refrain from doing something.
36. To refrain from doing something.
37. To refrain from doing something.
38. To do or be better.
39. To do or be better.
40. To take heed, to have an interest, to care.

## Etymology
From Middle English passen, from Old French passer (“to step, walk, pass”), from Vulgar Latin *passāre (“step, walk, pass”), derived from Latin passus (“a step”), from Proto-Italic *pat-s-tus, from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread, stretch out”). Cognate with Old English fæþm (“armful, fathom”). More at fathom.
Displaced native Old English genġan.

## Easily confused with
- **PS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-ps)
- **pay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pay)
- **pat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pat)
- **pcs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pcs)
- **pos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pos)
- **PBS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pbs)
- **paw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-paw)
- **PSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-psa)
- **PTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pts)
- **psi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-psi)
- **PSG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-psg)
- **pax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pax)
- **PST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pst)
- **PSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-psp)
- **Paz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-paz)
- **pau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pau)
- **PMS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pms)
- **pus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pus)
- **pes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-pes)
- **PSU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pass-vs-psu)

## Common misspellings (3)
`apss`, `ppass`, `psas`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pass