From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe passing of time/the yearsthe passing of time/the yearsPASS/TIME PASSINGthe process of time going by Most of the old traditions have died out with the passing of time. The passing of the years had done nothing to improve his temper. → passing
Examples from the Corpus
the passing of time/the years• The passing of the years has not weakened his artistic ability. 