- passing
- [[t]pɑ͟ːsɪŋ, pæ̱s-[/t]]
1) ADJ: ADJ n A passing fashion, activity, or feeling lasts for only a short period of time and is not worth taking very seriously.
Hamnett does not believe environmental concern is a passing fad...
He had never taken more than a passing interest in the girl.
Syn:Ant:2) N-SING: with poss The passing of something such as a time or system is the fact of its coming to an end.It was an historic day, yet its passing was not marked by the slightest excitement...
When the Fifties faded into history, there wasn't a lot of mourning for the passing of an era.
3) N-SING: with poss You can refer to someone's death as their passing, if you want to avoid using the word `death' because you think it might upset or offend people.His passing will be mourned by many people.
...the passing of one of this century's great artists, Miles Davis.
Syn:4) N-SING: the N of n The passing of a period of time is the fact or process of its going by.The passing of time brought a sense of emptiness...
The passing of the years has been kind to Dan. He looks like a man of half his age.
5) ADJ: ADJ n A passing mention or reference is brief and is made while you are talking or writing about something else.It was just a passing comment, he didn't go on about it...
The colonies received only a passing mention.
Syn:6) → See also pass7) PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v If you mention something in passing, you mention it briefly while you are talking or writing about something else.In passing, it should be noted that...
The army is only mentioned in passing.
Syn:8) PHRASE If something changes with each passing year or with every passing day, it changes continuously.His stomach had grown more prominent with every passing year...
Work becomes harder with each passing day.
English dictionary. 2008.
