WordGarden.iopassage
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈæsɪdʒ/
US
- /ˈpæsədʒ/
Meanings
Noun
a short section or extract from a written work
a narrow route, corridor, or channel through a place or structure
the passing or flow of time
More meaningsFewer meanings
the approval of a bill or measure by a legislature
a channel or opening in the body
a short section of a musical work
Beyond the definition
A passage can be many things. It can mean a way through something, like finding a safe passage through a mountain range, or it can describe the passing of time. It is also a section of writing, such as a part of a book, speech, or article. You might read a passage in a novel and stop because it says something in a memorable way.
Sometimes "passage" means the right or chance to travel, like booking passage on a ship across the ocean. It can also mean a physical route, like a secret passage behind a bookcase, or a narrow water route between two larger areas. So the word can appear in stories about travel, in books and essays, or when people talk about change over time.
The word "passage" holds a surprising amount of versatility. At its core, it refers to the act of moving through something—a physical space, a period of time, or even an emotional state. Imagine explorers seeking passage through dense jungles or a ship navigating a narrow sea passage. This sense of movement and progression is central to understanding the word.
However, "passage" also commonly describes a section of written or printed text—an excerpt, paragraph, or segment from a larger work. When you analyze a passage in literature class, you're examining a specific part of writing for its meaning and effect. For example: "The most moving passage in the book described her childhood home."
Beyond these core meanings, "passage" can refer to the right or permission to travel through an area, such as "granted safe passage" through a territory or purchasing a ticket for a ship's passage. It can also describe a physical structure like a hallway, or a narrow route like a water passage connecting two bodies of water. Figuratively, it represents a transition or stage in life, such as "the passage from childhood to adulthood." Historically, the term was also used to describe long journeys across the Atlantic Ocean, highlighting the word's deep connection to travel, transformation, and the journey itself.
Examples
- 1
Reading
The teacher asked us to read a short passage from the story aloud.
- 2
Building layout
A narrow passage led from the kitchen to the back door.
- 3
Cave route
We followed the passage through the cave until we saw daylight.
- 4
Time passing
The passage of time made the old argument seem less important.
- Phrasethe passage of time
time moving forward
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Legal approval
The bill failed once, but its passage in June changed the rules for everyone.
- Domainpassage of a bill or law
official approval
- 6
Travel safety
The charity arranged safe passage for families leaving the war zone.
- Phrasesafe passage
permission or protection to travel safely
- 7
Life milestone
For many teenagers, learning to drive feels like a rite of passage.
- Phrasea rite of passage
an important event that marks a new stage in life
- 8
Gradual change
The documentary follows one family's passage from poverty to security.
- Patternpassage from A to B
a gradual change from one state to another
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- passagenoun
Forms
- passagespluralnoun