passage
noun
pas·sage
| \ ˈpa-sij
\
\
Definition of passage
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes
Special ships clear passages through the ice. nasal passages
b
: a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment
Her office is at the end of the passage.
2a
: the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another
the passage of food through the digestive system
b
: death sense 1a
when he is fit and seasoned for his passage— William Shakespeare
c
: a continuous movement or flow
the passage of time
3a(1)
: a specific act of traveling or passing especially by sea or air
a long ocean passage
(2)
: a privilege of conveyance as a passenger : accommodations
was able to secure passage on the next flight
b
: the passing of a legislative measure or law : enactment
a bill's passage into law
4
: a right, liberty, or permission to pass
attempted to force passage through the town— C. A. Willoughby
5a
: something that happens or is done : incident
The soldier related some exciting passages.
b
: something that takes place between two persons mutually
the passage of vows between bride and groom
6a
: a usually brief portion of a written work or speech that is relevant to a point under discussion or noteworthy for content or style
quoted a passage from the Bible
b
: a phrase or short section of a musical composition
The violinist played the challenging passages with great virtuosity.
c
: a detail of a work of art (such as a painting)
the picture contains several pretty passages of color— Clive Bell
7
: the act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing
The computer facilitates the rapid passage of information.
8
: incubation (see incubate sense 1b) of a pathogen (such as a virus) in culture, a living organism, or a developing egg
passage
verb
passaged;
passaging
Definition of passage (Entry 2 of 2)
: to go past or across : cross
: to subject to passage
passaged a virus
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Examples of passage in a Sentence
Noun
We squeezed through a narrow passage between the rocks. Special ships clear passages through the ice. The medicine makes breathing easier by opening nasal passages. They controlled the passage of goods through their territory. the passage of food through the digestive system the passage of air into and out of the lungs the passage from life to death the passage of the seasons He left after the passage of a few hours. With the passage of time, the number of children suffering with the disease has decreased dramatically.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Despite the bill’s unglamorous death in the Senate, its passage in the House is a major step forward for low-income families. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "The $15 minimum wage bill has all but died in the Senate," 16 Aug. 2019 Nearly 60 Democrats skipped the speech (and that included four who currently are running for President) and many more eventually voted in favor of the deal, ensuring its passage. — Jane Eisner, Time, "Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Were Barred From Entering Israel. The Damage Will Extend Far Beyond Their Blocked Visit," 16 Aug. 2019 The most troubling portion of the bill is also one of its most succinct passages. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "The Danger of a Domestic Terrorism Law," 15 Aug. 2019 Meanwhile, enactment of Connecticut’s law was associated with a 1.6% reduction in firearm suicides immediately after its passage. — Los Angeles Times, "Here’s what you need to know about ‘red-flag’ laws, the latest trend in gun control," 14 Aug. 2019 Robb, who helped lead the decade-long fight for a bill in New York, credited the Me Too movement and a Democrat-takeover of the state legislature for paving the way for its passage. — NBC News, "Nun sexually abused me at Catholic orphanage, woman says," 13 Aug. 2019 The drama of the opening Allegro was underscored by Fisch’s driving but flexible tempos, while the Andante was smooth as silk, even in its occasional dramatic passages. — cleveland.com, "Familiar works enjoy new life on revelatory night with Cleveland Orchestra," 12 Aug. 2019 Not a single Republican supported these bills in the Colorado legislature, and several Democratic lawmakers, including Gov. Jared Polis, are ostensibly the targets of recall attempts because of their passage. — Ian Silverii, The Denver Post, "Silverii: Why can’t we do anything about El Paso and Dayton? Politicians like Sen. Cory Gardner," 11 Aug. 2019 Some barrier, unseen and unheard by me, blocked our passage. — Haben Girma, Twin Cities, "Haben Girma: Guide dogs don’t lead blind people. We wander as one.," 11 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Bag ban ban: A state bill that would pre-empt Cuyahoga County and other local governments from banning or taxing single-use plastic bags moved one step closer to passage on Wednesday, cleveland.com’s Andrew Tobias reports. — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland.com, "Ohio House wants to rewrite school funding: The Wake Up for Thursday, June 27, 2019," 27 June 2019 With a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, just three additional Republican supporters could bring the resolution to passage. — Natalie Andrews And Andrew Duehren, WSJ, "Congress to Weigh Measures to Nullify Trump’s Emergency Order," 21 Feb. 2019 Trails offer visitors passage into forests of sabal palms and live oaks draped in Spanish moss, ponds busy with herons, kingfishers and waterfowl, and riparian wetlands skirting the banks of the Rio Grande. — James F. Mccarty, cleveland.com, "Eco-tourists enjoy Rio Grande Valley as threat of a border wall threatens habitat," 15 Apr. 2018 If Trump backs it, that could propel the measure to passage. — Tal Kopan And Lauren Fox, CNN, "Republicans unveil DACA citizenship-border wall compromise bill," 14 June 2018 And in each of those situations, votes from Kansas City area lawmakers either pushed a bill to passage or helped prevent a measure from making it to Gov. Jeff Colyer. — Hunter Woodall, kansascity, "That bill you love, that bill you hate? A KC area lawmaker likely cast a key vote | The Kansas City Star," 9 May 2018 Their support, along with their conservative colleagues, could have pushed the bill to passage. — Hunter Woodall, kansascity, "That bill you love, that bill you hate? A KC area lawmaker likely cast a key vote | The Kansas City Star," 9 May 2018 Council Clerk and Community Services Director Keith Benjamin worked behind the scenes in seeing the ordinance through to passage. — Jeff Piorkowski/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "South Euclid City Council passes controversial anti-discrimination ordinance," 10 Apr. 2018 The push for Sunday carryout sales — approved Wednesday by a House committee 12 to 1 and passed unanimously last week by a Senate panel — seems on a fast track to passage. — Robert King, Indianapolis Star, "Senate panel kills cold beer bill while Sunday alcohol sales gains momentum," 17 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'passage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for passage
passage
noun
English Language Learners Definition of passage
: a long, narrow space that connects one place to another
: a narrow space that people or things can move through
: an act of moving or passing from one place or state to another
See the full definition for passage in the English Language Learners Dictionary