passage - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
passage Word Meanings
- a way through or passageway
- a section of text
- the act of passing
passage Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
passage Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/
US
/ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/
passage Word Etymology
passage = pass + age; Historical origin: Latin 'passus' → Old French 'passage' → English. Memory image: imagine walking through a doorway (pass) into a new age.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I push the door and step into a quiet hallway, my feet move with a calm, careful rhythm. The light shifts along the walls as I adjust my pace, turning my attention from wall to doorway and keeping my balance. The space seems to give ground beneath my steps, and I hold the moment as if it were a thread I could pull through. As I press on, the word settles in not as a rule but as a sensation—a passage you walk, a moment you read, a way you pass through.
Real Context
Passage can refer to a way through a space, a corridor or passageway; a section of text in a book or document; and the act of passing from one place to another. In everyday use, speakers choose among these senses by context: a physical passage in a garden, a safe passage through a difficult topic in a report, or the passage of time. Note that passage is fairly formal or neutral; in more casual speech you might say path, way, or route for space, or just a paragraph or excerpt for text. Learners often confuse passage with pass as a verb, or with pathway terms when the context is clear.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: use for a physical route, a text excerpt, or the act of passing; avoid forcing one sense in a context that clearly means another; check common collocations like passageway, paragraph, and passage of time; prefer natural alternatives (path, section, time lapse) when appropriate; treat passage as more formal than everyday talk.
Common Misconceptions
- Passage only means a door or hallway; it also means a section of text.
- Confusing passage with 'pass' (verb) or with 'path'.
- Assuming 'passage' always refers to time rather than space or text.
- Using 'passage' for every excerpt, even when 'paragraph' or 'section' is preferred.
- Mixing up 'passageway' (physical) with 'passage' (text) in formal writing.
Thinking Differences
To an English speaker, passage often feels flexible and formal, covering both space and text; learners should notice the surrounding words to pick the right sense.
Learning Tips
- Create 6 varied sentences using passage in each sense (space, text, time).
- Compare with similar words like path, corridor, paragraph.
- Notice formal vs informal tone in different contexts.
- Use a dictionary to confirm sense in collocations.
- Watch for collocations: passageway, passage from, passage of time.
- Practice translating short excerpts to solidify sense differences.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'passage'?
A.A funny joke
B.A large meal
C.A narrow way
D.A painful experience
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'passage' used in a sentence?
A.She enjoyed reading the passage in the book.
B.He ate a passage for lunch.
C.The passage of time made him sad.
D.The passage dog barked loudly.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'passage'?
A.Happiness
B.Corridor
C.Changeable
D.Pleasant
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is an antonym of 'passage'?
A.Swift
B.Entry
C.Swift
D.Barrier
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you encounter the word 'passage'?
A.Playing a video game
B.Cooking a meal
C.Reading a book
D.Exercising at the gym
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