Passed vs. Promoted — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 16, 2023
Passed generally means having been approved or having moved from one place to another, while Promoted implies a move upward in position or rank.
Difference Between Passed and Promoted
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Passed and Promoted are two terms that, while related to progression, have distinct differences. Passed usually pertains to having successfully completed something, like a test or a grade. Promoted, conversely, often refers to elevation in rank, status, or position.
The word Passed can have multiple contexts, such as the act of moving by something or someone, or having been approved in an evaluation. For instance, a student can pass an exam, or a car can pass another on a road. Promoted, however, is more specific in its connotation. It often implies an upward movement, especially in workplaces or in ranks.
Passed, in its essence, is neutral – it doesn’t denote a direction, merely a completion or a movement. You can pass a message, or a day can pass. Promoted, on the other hand, always suggests an ascent. An employee is promoted to a managerial position, signifying a climb in the professional ladder.
Another layer of distinction lies in the realms these words frequently occupy. Passed is a broader term, used in diverse contexts from time, objects, to academic evaluations. Promoted is more confined, often tied to achievements, hierarchy, and progress in fields like marketing or job positions.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Moved by or approved
Elevated in rank or position
ADVERTISEMENT
Usage
Diverse contexts from time to academic evaluations
Often related to job ranks or achievements
Direction
Neutral
Upward
Connotation
Completion or movement
Ascent, advancement
Examples of Use
Passing a message, day passing
Promotion in job, promoting a product
Compare with Definitions
Passed
Moved by something or someone.
The car passed the bus swiftly.
Promoted
Elevated to a higher position or rank.
Jane was promoted to the position of manager.
Passed
Approved in an evaluation.
She passed the final exam with flying colors.
Promoted
Advanced to the next grade in school.
My son was promoted to the fifth grade.
Passed
Exceeded or went beyond a certain point.
The storm passed the town without causing damage.
Promoted
Advocated or publicized.
He promoted the new product at the expo.
Passed
Transferred from one to another.
He passed the ball to his teammate.
Promoted
Supported the growth or occurrence of something.
This environment promotes creativity.
Passed
Died or departed life.
My grandfather passed peacefully in his sleep.
Promoted
Raised to a higher rank in the military.
He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
Passed
To move on or ahead; proceed
The train passed through fields of wheat.
Promoted
To raise to a more important or responsible job or rank.
Passed
To extend; run
The river passes through our land.
Promoted
To advance (a student) to the next higher grade.
Passed
To move by or in front of something
The band passed and the crowd cheered.
Promoted
To contribute to the progress or growth of; further.
Passed
To move past another vehicle
The sports car passed on the right.
Promoted
To urge the adoption of; advocate
Promote a constitutional amendment.
Passed
To gain passage despite obstacles
Pass through difficult years.
Promoted
To attempt to sell or popularize by advertising or publicity
Commercials promoting a new product.
Passed
To move past in time; elapse
The days passed quickly.
Promoted
To help establish or organize (a new enterprise), as by securing financial backing
Promote a Broadway show.
Passed
To be transferred from one to another; circulate
The wine passed around the table.
Promoted
Simple past tense and past participle of promote
Passed
(Sports) To transfer a ball or puck to a teammate.
Passed
To be communicated or exchanged between persons
Loud words passed in the corridor.
Passed
To be transferred or conveyed to another by will or deed
The title passed to the older heir.
Passed
To undergo transition from one condition, form, quality, or characteristic to another
Daylight passed into darkness.
Passed
To come to an end
My anger suddenly passed. The headache finally passed.
Passed
To cease to exist; die. Often used with on
The patient passed on during the night.
Passed
To happen; take place
Wanted to know what had passed at the meeting.
Passed
To be allowed to happen without notice or challenge
Let their rude remarks pass.
Passed
Sports & Games To decline one's turn to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
Passed
To decline an offer
When we offered him dessert, he passed.
Passed
To undergo an examination or a trial with favorable results.
Passed
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute
The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
Passed
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
Passed
To be approved or adopted
The motion to adjourn passed.
Passed
To make a decision
To pass upon a legal question.
Passed
To convey property to an heir or heirs
To pass according to the terms of the will.
Passed
(Medicine) To be discharged from a bodily part
The patient had a lot of pain when the kidney stone passed.
Passed
(Sports) To thrust or lunge in fencing.
Passed
To go by without stopping; proceed beyond or leave behind
The bus passed a gas station.
Passed
To go across; go through
We passed the border into Mexico.
Passed
To allow to go by or elapse; spend
He passed his winter in Vermont.
Passed
To go by without paying attention to; disregard or ignore
If you pass the new photographs in the collection, you'll miss some outstanding ones.
Passed
To fail to pay (a dividend).
Passed
To go beyond; surpass
The inheritance passed my wildest dreams.
Passed
To undergo (a trial or examination) with favorable results
She passed every test.
Passed
To cause or allow to go through a trial, test, or examination successfully
The instructor passed all the candidates.
Passed
To cause to move
We passed our hands over the fabric.
Passed
To cause to move into a certain position
Pass a ribbon around a package.
Passed
To cause to move as part of a process
Pass liquid through a filter.
Passed
To cause to go by
The sergeant passed his troops before the grandstand.
Passed
To allow to cross a barrier
The border guard passed the tourists.
Passed
(Baseball) To walk (a batter).
Passed
To maneuver (the bull) by means of a pase in bullfighting.
Passed
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate
They passed the news quickly.
Passed
To hand over to someone else
Please pass the bread.
Passed
(Sports) To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
Passed
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently
Pass counterfeit money.
Passed
(Law) To convey (property) to an heir or heirs
To pass an estate.
Passed
(Medicine) To discharge (a waste product, for example) from a bodily part.
Passed
(Medicine) To introduce (an instrument) into a bodily cavity.
Passed
To approve; adopt
The legislature passed the bill.
Passed
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by
The bill passed the House of Representatives.
Passed
To pronounce; utter
Pass judgment.
Pass sentence on an offender.
Passed
The act of passing; passage.
Passed
A way, such as a narrow gap between mountains, that affords passage around, over, or through a barrier.
Passed
A permit, ticket, or authorization to come and go at will.
Passed
A free ticket entitling one to transportation or admission.
Passed
Written leave of absence from military duty.
Passed
A passing grade, especially when graded using a pass-fail grading system.
Passed
A sweep or run, as by an aircraft, over or toward an area or target.
Passed
A single complete cycle of operations, as by a machine or computer program.
Passed
A condition or situation, often critical in nature; a predicament
Contract negotiations that had come to an emotional pass.
Passed
A sexual invitation or overture
Was he making a pass at her?.
Passed
A motion of the hand or the waving of a wand
The magician made a pass over the hat.
Passed
(Sports) A transfer of a ball or puck between teammates.
Passed
(Sports) A lunge or thrust in fencing.
Passed
(Baseball) A base on balls.
Passed
Sports & Games A refusal to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
Passed
(Games) A winning throw of the dice in craps.
Passed
A pase in bullfighting.
Passed
Simple past tense and past participle of pass
Passed
That has passed beyond a certain point (chiefly in set collocations).
Passed
That has passed a given qualification or examination; qualified.
Common Curiosities
Can Passed and Promoted be used interchangeably?
No, while both indicate progression, Passed denotes approval or movement, while Promoted means elevation in rank.
Can time be promoted?
No, time passes but doesn't get promoted.
Does Passed always mean approval?
No, it can also mean movement past something or a certain point in time.
Can a product be passed?
Not in the same way as promoted. A product can be promoted (advertised), but not passed.
Is Promoted only used in job contexts?
No, it can also mean advocating something, advancing in school, or even elevation in military rank.
Can you pass a grade without being promoted?
Generally, passing a grade implies being promoted to the next grade.
Is there a directional implication with Passed?
Passed is neutral regarding direction. It signifies movement or completion without a specific direction.
Can someone be demoted?
Yes, demoted is the opposite of promoted and means moved to a lower rank or position.
Is Passed more versatile in its usage than Promoted?
Yes, Passed can be used in a wider variety of contexts than Promoted.
Is passing an exam the same as being promoted?
No, passing an exam means you've met the required standards; being promoted often refers to elevation in rank or position.
Can days be promoted?
No, days can pass, but they can't be promoted.
What's the primary difference between the two terms?
Passed relates to movement or approval, while Promoted implies upward movement or rank elevation.
If a product is promoted, does it guarantee success?
No, promoting a product means it's being advertised or pushed, not that it will be successful.
Does passing always mean success?
In contexts like exams, yes. But it can simply mean movement in other scenarios.
If someone is promoted at work, have they necessarily passed something?
Not necessarily, though a promotion may be based on achievements or performance.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Cauldron vs. Kettle
Next Comparison
Lock vs. LookAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
