Pass Out – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever felt so dizzy you almost fell over—or handed out flyers to everyone on your street? In English, both actions can be described with the phrase pass out! This common phrasal verb has two main meanings: (1) to faint or lose consciousness, and (2) to distribute or hand out items to a group of people.

What Does “Pass Out” Mean?

“Pass out” can mean two different things:
1. To faint or lose consciousness—often due to heat, exhaustion, pain, or shock.
2. To give or hand out items to a group—like flyers, tests, or candy.
Think of it like your body “shutting down” when you faint—or your hands “passing out” papers one by one. The phrase is informal but widely used in everyday English.

When to Use It

Use this phrase in casual or neutral conversations:
• For fainting: “She passed out after standing in the sun too long.”
• For distributing: “The teacher passed out the exam papers.”
It’s common in health situations, classrooms, events, or community outreach. Just remember: context tells you which meaning is intended!

Example Sentences

• He passed out from dehydration during the marathon.
• Volunteers passed out water bottles at the festival.
• Don’t stand up too fast—you might pass out!
• I passed out invitations to all my neighbors.

Mini Dialogue

Alex: “Why did they call an ambulance?”

Jamie: “Maria passed out in the cafeteria—she hadn’t eaten all day.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t confuse “pass out” (faint or distribute) with “pass out” as slang for falling asleep (e.g., “I passed out on the couch”). While the sleep meaning exists in informal speech, it’s less common in learning contexts. And never use it for “pass away” (which means to die)—that’s a different phrase entirely.

❌ Don’t say: “My grandfather passed out last year.” (That’s incorrect and insensitive—use “passed away.”)
✅ Do say: “He passed out from the heat.” (fainted)
✅ Do say: “She passed out brochures at the event.” (distributed)

Final Note

Now you can use “pass out” to talk about fainting or sharing items with confidence! Just pay attention to context—and never mix it up with serious phrases like “pass away.” Keep practicing, and you’ll master this versatile phrasal verb in no time.