pass on
Third Person
passes on
Present Participle
passing on
Past Tense
passed on
Past Participle
passed on
1
to transfer the possession or ownership of something to another person
transitive
- They passed their ancestral home on to their daughter, ensuring it stays in the family.
- They passed their collection of vintage coins on to the national museum for preservation.
- After much consideration, she chose to pass on her late mother's jewelry to her niece.
- The company passed on the ownership of the property to a new investor.
- The couple decided to pass on the family business to their children.
2
to no longer be alive
- I'm sorry to hear that your grandmother passed on last year.
- He passed on peacefully in his sleep.
- I heard that Mrs. Thompson, our old neighbor, passed on last week.
- It's been a year since my uncle passed on, and we still miss him dearly.
- She passed on in her hometown, where she had lived her entire life.
3
to convey information or a message to another person
transitive
- Can you pass on this message to Jessica when you see her?
- I'll pass on your greetings to the team.
- She wanted me to pass on this book recommendation to you.
- Please pass this message on to your supervisor.
- He passed the news on to all his colleagues as soon as he heard.
Synonyms:
4
to transfer knowledge, traditions, or skills to another person or group, often to ensure they are preserved or continued
transitive
- The martial arts instructor decided to pass on his advanced techniques only to his most dedicated students.
- Teachers not only deliver lessons but also pass on critical life skills and values to their students.
- Grandparents often pass on family histories and traditions to their grandchildren through tales and anecdotes.
- Grandpa wanted to pass his woodworking skills on to the younger generation.
- She passed the family recipes on to her daughter to ensure they wouldn't be forgotten.
5
to transfer a disease or infection from one person, animal, or organism to others
transitive
- Sick people can easily pass on the flu to others if they don't take precautions.
- Vaccinations can help reduce the chance of passing on infectious diseases.
- Despite her best efforts, she passed the infection on to her roommate.
- They were advised to stay home to avoid passing the contagious illness on to coworkers.
- She wore gloves to handle food, ensuring she didn't pass any germs on to the customers.
6
to politely decline an offer or opportunity
transitive
- I passed on going to the movie with my friends because I was feeling sick.
- I'll pass on dessert; I'm watching my sugar intake.
- She decided to pass on the job offer after considering her options.
- Though it sounded tempting, he chose to pass on the deal.
- Although the workshop sounded interesting, he decided to pass on attending due to other commitments.
7
to move forward
- They encountered a blockade on the main road, so they decided to pass on through a side street.
- We need to wait for the cars to pass on before we can safely merge into the next lane.
- It's crowded in the hallway, so let's wait for the group ahead to pass on before we continue.
- The trail becomes steeper ahead, so make sure everyone is ready before we pass on to the more challenging section.
Antonyms:
8
to move forward in life, career, or personal development
- By gaining experience in this role, you'll be better equipped to pass on to higher positions within the company.
- As we celebrate this achievement, it's natural to start thinking about how we will pass on to the next phase of our lives.
- After working on communication and understanding, the couple was able to pass on to a healthier and more connected relationship.
- By overcoming personal challenges, she was able to pass on to a more positive and fulfilling stage in her life.
9
to actively contribute to the spread of something
transitive
- Pass on the flyers to people as they enter the event.
- Pass these brochures on to potential customers.
- Yesterday, we passed on the handouts to diners as they entered the restaurant.
- She is passing on the information cards to shoppers as they register.
- By the time she arrived, we had already passed on the merchandise catalogs.
Synonyms:
10
to refer someone or something to another person for a decision or judgment
transitive
- When the support team couldn't resolve the problem, they passed the ticket on to the technical department.
- After the initial review, the editor passed on the manuscript to the chief editor for final approval.
- He wasn't certain about the tax implications, so he passed the client on to the senior accountant.
- Whenever there's a tricky situation at work, she tends to pass it on to someone else instead of handling it herself.
- I'm not sure about this issue; I'll need to pass it on to my supervisor.
11
to give an item to another person after using it
transitive
- She passed on her old toys to children in the neighborhood.
- I enjoyed the book; now, I'll pass it on to my friend.
- Pass the remote on to your brother; he wants to change the channel.
- These clothes are still in great condition, but they no longer fit me.I'll pass them on to someone who can use them.