Pass vs Skip

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Pass

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Skip

Top 1,000 (very common) C1 verb

	Pass	Skip
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/skɪp/","/skɪps/","/skɪpt/","/ˈskɪpɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/skɪp/","/skɪps/","/skɪpt/","/ˈskɪpɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.	To not do something or to leave it out.
Example	I will pass the ball to you during the game.	She decided to skip the meeting because she was feeling unwell.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	C1
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticed	lightly, nimbly, happily, down, up, to, somebody’s heart skips a beat
Antonyms	stop, hold, block	attend, join, participate
Common mistakes	Confusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts.	Using 'skip' with an object in the wrong tense (ex: 'skipped' instead of 'skip'), Confusing 'skip' with 'jump', Omitting the object when it is necessary (ex: saying 'I will skip' instead of 'I will skip the meeting')
Usage notes	Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Can refer to physical movement or to allowing someone to take a turn (e.g., in games). Not typically used in very formal writing when describing decisions.	Use 'skip' when deciding to not participate in an activity. It's appropriate in casual conversations, but can be seen as disrespectful if skipping a serious obligation.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

We must take the Pass of Caradhras.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

Pass

Frequently asked questions: Pass vs Skip

What's the difference between Pass and Skip?

Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen. Skip: To not do something or to leave it out.

Which is more advanced: Pass and Skip?

Skip is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Pass and Skip the same CEFR level?

Pass: A2, Skip: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Pass and Skip?

Pass: verb, Skip: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game. Skip: She decided to skip the meeting because she was feeling unwell.

Can I use Pass and Skip interchangeably?

Not always. Pass and Skip are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.