Pass Up – 2 Key Meanings

Meaning 1: To decline or refuse an opportunity, offer, or advantage

When you pass up an opportunity, it means you’re choosing to decline or let it go, often when it’s something that others might consider valuable or beneficial. This usage is common in professional, academic, and personal settings, especially when discussing offers, deals, or chances to do something rewarding.

• Synonyms: decline, forgo, reject, turn down
• Additional Uses: Used frequently when talking about missed or declined opportunities in work, social invitations, and special offers.
• Example Sentences:
  1. Did you really pass up that promotion?
     • Did you really pass that promotion up?
  2. I do not want to pass up this chance to study abroad.
     • I do not want to pass this chance up to study abroad.
  3. He does tend to pass up offers if he feels uncertain.
     • He does tend to pass offers up if he feels uncertain.
  4. She passed up a lucrative job offer to stay with her current company.
     • She passed a lucrative job offer up to stay with her current company.
  5. They do often pass up networking events, which could benefit their careers.
     • They do often pass networking events up, which could benefit their careers.

Meaning 2: To overlook or ignore something (often informal)

In some contexts, pass up can mean to overlook or ignore something, typically when discussing smaller, everyday choices. This usage is less common but appears in informal situations where someone might deliberately ignore or overlook an option.

• Synonyms: ignore, bypass, disregard
• Additional Uses: Commonly used informally when discussing things that someone overlooks or dismisses, rather than formally declining.
• Example Sentences:
  1. Did he just pass up that last donut without even noticing?
     • Did he just pass that last donut up without even noticing?
  2. I do not like to pass up a chance to try something new, no matter how small.
     • I do not like to pass a chance up to try something new, no matter how small.
  3. She does often pass up on snacks during meetings.
     • She does often pass on snacks up during meetings.
  4. He passed up a parking spot close to the store, thinking it was too tight.
     • He passed a parking spot up close to the store, thinking it was too tight.
  5. They do usually pass up small talk, preferring to get straight to business.
     • They do usually pass small talk up, preferring to get straight to business.