To engage in an activity to make a period of time seem shorter or less boring.
Examples:
Reading books helps me pass the time during commutes.Playing board games is a fun way to pass the time.She chats with friends online to pass the time.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Spend time
To use or allocate a period for a specific activity or with someone
Examples:
He loves to spend time exploring new hiking trails.Let's spend time discussing the project details next week.You should spend time reflecting on your future goals.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Pass the time often implies engaging in activities to make the time go by faster.
Spend time suggests a more intentional use of time, often with a purpose or goal.
Think of pass the time like a background activity, while spend time is more like a focused activity.
Pass the time can be used for casual or less significant activities.
Use spend time when you are choosing to do something with your time.