1 B1 neutral
To give or send something to another person, continuing a chain of transmission.
"Can you pass on my apologies to the team? I won't be able to attend."
separable
pass on
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To transmit something to another person, to decline an offer, or (as a euphemism) to die.
In plain English
To give something to someone else, to say 'no thank you' to an offer, or to die.
What does "pass on" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To decline an offer or opportunity, usually politely.
"Thanks for the invitation, but I think I'll pass on the party this weekend."
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
(euphemism) To die.
"He passed on quietly surrounded by his family."
inseparable
4 B1 neutral
To transfer a disease, trait, or cost to another person.
"The virus can be passed on through close contact."
separable
Usage tip
One of the most versatile phrasal verbs. The sense of 'dying' is slightly less formal than 'pass away'. The sense of 'declining' is common in informal American English ('I'll pass on the dessert'). Context usually makes the intended sense clear.
Words that pair with "pass on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
message information germs greetings offer dessert
How to conjugate "pass on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pass on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
passes on
he/she/it
Past simple
passed on
yesterday
Past participle
passed on
have + pp
-ing form
passing on
continuous
Hear "pass on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "pass on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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