pass up

verb

passed up; passing up; passes up
Synonyms of pass upnext

transitive verb

: to let go by without accepting or taking advantage of
pass up a chance for promotion
also : decline, reject

Examples of pass up in a Sentence

I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the Canadian businessman and Shark Tank investor isn’t one to pass up financial savings—no matter how small, writes Fortune’s Preston Fore. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Viewer comments, reactions and visible purchasing activity signal that other people are buying, making the product feel more desirable and harder to pass up. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 For would-be pirates in a country currently grappling with drought, worsening food insecurity, and shrinking humanitarian assistance, the economic incentives and risk-reward balance may be too tempting to pass up. Aparajita Saxena, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Don’t pass up the food here either; the Tuna Ceviche and Corn Soft Serve make perfect companions to the drinks. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass up

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass up was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pass up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20up. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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