To move past something or someone in a slow, orderly single-file line.
To walk slowly past something in a line, one after another.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To move in a slow, orderly single-file line past a person, object, or place, especially in a ceremonial context.
"Thousands of mourners filed past the open casket to pay their respects."
"For hours, members of the public filed past the coffin."
— BBC News, coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's lying in state, September 2022
To pass in a file (a single line of people).
To walk slowly past something in a line, one after another.
Frequently used in solemn or ceremonial contexts, such as mourners filing past a coffin or citizens filing past a monument. Conveys reverence, order, or formality.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "file past" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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