pass away

English

Verb

pass away (third-person singular simple present passes away, present participle passing away, simple past and past participle passed away)

  1. (euphemistic, idiomatic) To die.
    After a long battle with cancer, the professor passed away yesterday.
    • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
      He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away.
  2. (obsolete) To spend; to waste.
    • Bible, Eccles. xlii. 9
      Lest she pass away the flower of her age.

Usage notes

Usually refers to death by natural causes or medical conditions.

Synonyms

  • See also Thesaurus:die

Translations

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