passing
UK: ˈpɑːsɪŋ | US: ˈpæsɪŋ
adj. moving by or going past
adj. lasting only a short time; fleeting
n. the act of moving past or through something
n. (sports) the act of transferring the ball to a teammate
n. death (euphemistic)
passing = pass<go, move> + ing<present participle suffix>
- pass: From Old French passer ("to go by, cross"), from Vulgar Latin passare, derived from Latin passus ("step, pace").
- ing: A suffix forming present participles or verbal nouns in English, from Old English -ende or -ung.
Etymology Origin:
The word "passing" originates from the verb "pass," which entered English via Old French and Latin, carrying the core idea of movement or transition. The suffix "-ing" transforms it into an adjective or noun, emphasizing the ongoing or resultant action. Over time, "passing" evolved to describe not just physical movement but also transient states (e.g., "passing thought") and symbolic transitions (e.g., "passing away" for death).
The passing cars created a steady hum outside the window.
She gave him a passing glance but didn’t stop to talk.
The team’s passing accuracy improved during the match.
His interest in the topic was only passing and soon faded.
The community mourned the passing of a beloved leader.