What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pass out
Example
He drank too much and passed out on the couch. [pass out: verb]
Example
I need to pass out these flyers before the event starts. [pass out: phrasal verb]
Example
She finally passed out of medical school after years of hard work. [passed out: past tense]
faint
Example
She fainted at the sight of blood. [fainted: past tense]
Example
I feel faint after standing up too quickly. [faint: adjective]
Example
I could hear a faint whisper in the distance. [faint: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Faint is more commonly used than pass out in everyday language. Faint is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pass out is less common and often associated with negative connotations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pass out and faint?
Both pass out and faint are informal terms, but faint is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.