passing
noun
Passing — the successful meeting of a required standard or test
Definition
Success in satisfying a test or requirement; "his future depended on his passing that test"; "he got a pass in introductory chemistry"
In depth
Passing is the act of succeeding in satisfying a test or requirement, the simplest and most direct demonstration that a minimum or expected standard has been met. The word carries less drama than 'triumph' or 'conquest,' implying adequate, sufficient success rather than exceptional achievement, though that sufficiency can carry enormous personal stakes.
Origin
The word descends from Old French passer, to pass, ultimately from Latin passus, a step or pace. That underlying image of stepping past a particular point or barrier remains the word's essential logic, passing a test conceived, etymologically, as successfully stepping past an obstacle placed deliberately in one's way.
Usage examples
"His future depended on his passing that test, a single afternoon's exam carrying weight far beyond its modest length."
"Passing the bar exam, after two earlier failed attempts, brought relief more than celebration."
"The bridge's passing of the structural inspection allowed construction to finally proceed."
How to use it
Passing is plain, widely accessible vocabulary common in educational, professional, and regulatory contexts, useful wherever a writer wants to describe the meeting of a defined minimum standard rather than exceptional, distinguished achievement.
Related concepts
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