in passing

ADVERB

briefly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

momentarily quickly temporarily

WEAK

fleetingly for a little while hastily transiently

Antonyms

STRONGEST

permanently

WEAK

at length long-windedly verbosely

ADVERB

by the way

Synonyms

WEAK

apart from as to aside by the bye in as much as incidentally on the part of parenthetically relating to speaking of while on the subject with reference to

ADVERB

incidentally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

casually remotely

STRONG

accidentally

WEAK

as a by-product as side effect by the bye by the way fortuitously in related manner not by design obiter parenthetically subordinately unexpectedly

Antonyms

WEAK

purposely

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To be sure, executives are sometimes talking about the conflict in passing or fielding questions about Iran from analysts.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Also, don’t embarrass your friend or shame her daughter by mentioning it to your friend, even in passing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Her two solo albums are only mentioned in passing.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Something similar happened in a parliamentary by-election in Britain in February, recently mentioned in this space in passing but now worth a closer look.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

What my sensations were, no language can describe; but just as they all rose, stifling my breath and constricting my throat, a girl came up and passed me: in passing, she lifted her eyes.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

in passing

Example Sentences

Related Words