pass out
2 meanings
become unconscious for a short time
What does "pass out" mean in this sense?
Examples
- It was so hot in the stadium that two fans passed out and had to be carried away.
- She nearly passed out from the pain when the nurse removed the bandage.
- He passed out cold on the floor before the ambulance even arrived.
How to use it
The most basic pattern — no object is needed or possible, since the verb describes something that happens to the subject.
He passed out during the ceremony and was helped outside by a colleague.
Very frequently, speakers describe coming close to fainting rather than actually doing so, making 'nearly' and 'almost' extremely common with this verb.
The room was so stuffy that she nearly passed out before someone opened a window.
Use 'from' to explain the physical reason why someone lost consciousness.
Two runners passed out from dehydration before reaching the finish line.
The adverb 'cold' is placed after the verb to emphasise that the person lost consciousness completely and suddenly.
He hadn't eaten all day, and when he stood up too quickly, he passed out cold.
This construction is very high-frequency and describes the sensation of being on the verge of fainting.
She felt like she was going to pass out when she saw how high up they were.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When 'pass out' is followed directly by a noun object, it means to distribute or hand out, not to faint. The fainting sense is always intransitive — never put a noun object straight after it.
'Pass out' implies an involuntary loss of consciousness due to a physical cause like heat, pain, or alcohol — not simply falling asleep. Using it as a direct synonym for 'fall asleep' in normal contexts can sound unnatural or suggest something more dramatic happened.
Saying 'I will pass out' sounds unnatural because fainting is not something people plan or predict with certainty. Use 'nearly passed out', 'about to pass out', or 'feel like I'm going to pass out' instead.
Usage
'Pass out' is neutral and works in most situations, but 'lose consciousness' is more formal and preferred in medical or official writing. 'Pass out' can also informally mean to fall deeply asleep from exhaustion or alcohol, so context matters.
give something to each person in a group
Sense 2: What does "pass sth out" mean?
Examples
- Could you pass out these worksheets to the class before we start?
- She passed the flyers out to everyone waiting in the queue.
- I've already passed out the forms, so you can start filling them in.
How to use it
The most common structure, where the object (usually a physical item) comes directly after the particle.
The volunteer passed out leaflets near the town hall entrance.
When the object is a short noun phrase, it can also go between the verb and the particle.
Could you pass the worksheets out before the lesson starts?
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — never after 'out'.
We've printed the forms — can you pass them out, please?
The passive form is possible and sounds natural in more formal or procedural descriptions.
The ballots were passed out to each voter at the door.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'them' or 'it', it must go between 'pass' and 'out'. Putting it after 'out' is ungrammatical.
The same words 'pass out' can also mean to faint and lose consciousness. The key difference is that the 'distribute' meaning always has a direct object (something being given), while the 'faint' meaning has no object at all.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, though it is especially common in classroom and meeting contexts. In British English, 'hand out' is often preferred, but 'pass out' is widely understood everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'pass out' always mean to faint? I've heard it used differently.
No, 'pass out' has more than one meaning. This sense means to lose consciousness due to a physical cause. There is also a completely separate sense meaning to distribute or hand something out — for example, 'She passed out flyers on the street.' In that case, the verb always has a noun object directly after it, which is a clear signal that it means distribute, not faint.
What's the difference between 'pass out' and 'black out'?
'Black out' is a close synonym and means roughly the same thing, but it often suggests a more sudden or complete loss of consciousness — for example, linked to alcohol, a head injury, or a drop in blood pressure. 'Pass out' is slightly more general and more common in everyday speech, covering a wider range of causes such as heat, pain, or exhaustion.
Can I use 'pass out' to describe an animal fainting?
Yes, this is perfectly natural. You might say 'The dog passed out from the heat' or 'The horse nearly passed out after the race.' The grammar works in exactly the same way as for a person.
Is 'pass out' okay to use in formal or medical writing?
'Pass out' is neutral enough for most contexts, but in clinical or official medical writing, 'lose consciousness' or 'faint' are generally preferred. In news reports, semi-formal articles, or everyday professional conversation, 'pass out' is perfectly acceptable.
Can I say 'I am passing out' if it's happening right now?
It's rarely natural, because the act of fainting is so sudden that there is almost no time to describe it as ongoing. Instead, people typically use 'I'm going to pass out' (to express they are about to faint) or 'I nearly passed out' (after the fact). The present continuous is occasionally used in fiction to create dramatic tension but is not common in real speech.
Does 'pass out' always need an object?
In the 'distribute' meaning, yes — you always need to mention what is being given out. If there's no object, 'pass out' is likely being used to mean faint, which is a completely different sense.
What kinds of things can you 'pass out'?
Most commonly, physical items that are given to a group of people — things like handouts, flyers, worksheets, forms, leaflets, tickets, or programmes. The item is usually something that everyone in the group gets a copy or portion of.
Is 'pass out' the same as 'hand out'?
They mean the same thing and can be used in the same situations. In British English, 'hand out' tends to be slightly more common, while 'pass out' is especially natural in American English classrooms and meetings. Either is fine in most contexts.
Can I use 'pass out' to describe giving things to just one person?
Not naturally — 'pass out' suggests distributing something to each person in a group, not giving one item to a single person. If you're giving something to just one person, it's more natural to say 'give' or 'hand'.
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