Meanings
verbpass the time (third-person singular simple present passes the time, present participle passing the time, simple past and past participle passed the time)
present singular third person passes the time · participle present passing the time · participle past passed the time · past passed the time
- To occupy oneself for a period of time.
Since the train was late, we passed the time looking at our fellow passengers and making up stories about them.
1 more example
Look at all the ugly people Fillin' holes to pass the time
2001, J. G. Thirlwell, “Heuldoch 7B”, in Flow, performed by Foetus
Translations
Ancient Greek φοιτάω
- φοιτάω (phoitáō)to occupy oneself
German sich die Zeit vertreiben
- sich die Zeit vertreibento occupy oneself
Hawaiian hoʻohala manawa
- hoʻohala manawato occupy oneself
Polish zabijać czas, zabić czas
- zabijać czasto occupy oneself
- zabić czasto occupy oneself
Thai ฆ่าเวลา
- ฆ่าเวลาto occupy oneself
Cite this entry
APA
pass the time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pass%20the%20time
MLA
“pass the time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pass%20the%20time. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pass the time,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pass%20the%20time.
Source: pass the time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.