passage
1 Americannoun
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a portion or section of a written work; a paragraph, verse, etc..
a passage of Scripture.
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a phrase or other division of a musical work.
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Fine Arts. an area, section, or detail of a work, especially with respect to its qualities of execution.
passages of sensitive brushwork.
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an act or instance of passing from one place, condition, etc., to another; transit.
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the permission, right, or freedom to pass.
to refuse passage through a territory.
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the route or course by which a person or thing passes or travels.
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a hall or corridor; passageway.
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an opening or entrance into, through, or out of something.
the nasal passages.
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a voyage by water from one point to another.
a rough passage across the English Channel.
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the privilege of conveyance as a passenger.
to book passage on an ocean liner.
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the price charged for accommodation on a ship; fare.
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a lapse or passing, as of time.
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a progress or course, as of events.
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the enactment into law of a legislative measure.
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an interchange of communications, confidences, etc., between persons.
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an exchange of blows; altercation or dispute.
a passage at arms.
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the act of causing something to pass; transference; transmission.
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an evacuation of the bowels.
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an occurrence, incident, or event.
noun
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a slow, cadenced trot executed with great elevation of the feet and characterized by a moment of suspension before the feet strike the ground.
verb (used without object)
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(of a horse) to execute such a movement.
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(of a rider) to cause a horse to execute such a movement.
verb (used with object)
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to cause (a horse) to passage.
noun
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a channel, opening, etc, through or by which a person or thing may pass
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music a section or division of a piece, movement, etc
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a way, as in a hall or lobby
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a section of a written work, speech, etc, esp one of moderate length
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a journey, esp by ship
the outward passage took a week
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the act or process of passing from one place, condition, etc, to another
passage of a gas through a liquid
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the permission, right, or freedom to pass
to be denied passage through a country
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the enactment of a law or resolution by a legislative or deliberative body
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an evacuation of the bowels
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rare an exchange or interchange, as of blows, words, etc (esp in the phrase passage of arms )
noun
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a sideways walk in which diagonal pairs of feet are lifted alternately
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a cadenced lofty trot, the moment of suspension being clearly defined
verb
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to move or cause to move at a passage
Etymology
Origin of passage1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to pass(er) “to cross, go through” + -age noun suffix; pass, -age
Origin of passage2
First recorded in 1750–60; from French verb passager, variant of passéger, from Italian passeggiare “to walk, stroll”; pace 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Civic opened dozens of new DAFs for clients and more than doubled its assets under management in such vehicles between the passage of the law and the end of 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
"The safety of the vessel and all crew members have been confirmed," said the company, without commenting on whether any tolls were paid and how the crew secured safe passage.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
In addition to increased documentation requirements and the rollback of administrative improvements, the way states and participants interact has been fundamentally altered by the passage of H.R.
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026
Some prosecutors aren’t waiting for the passage of abolitionist laws.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
The men rejoiced as the weather cleared and they had the first good weather of the passage.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
