Passive
/ˈpæsɪv/
Definitions
3 meaningsAccepting or allowing what happens without taking action or initiative.
/ˈpæsɪv/
Accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.
The student was passive in class, rarely asking questions.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're watching a movie. A passive person is like a couch potato: they're just watching and not doing anything. They're okay with what's happening and don't try to change anything.
👶 For kids: When you are passive, it means you don't do anything. You just watch or let things happen.
More Examples
The company's passive approach to marketing led to slow growth.
He was passive in the face of injustice, which disappointed many.
How It's Used
"She remained passive during the argument, not wanting to get involved."
"A passive personality often avoids confrontation."
Relating to the grammatical voice in which the subject of a verb is the recipient of the action.
/ˈpæsɪv/
Relating to or denoting the voice of a verb.
Passive sentences often use the 'to be' verb and a past participle.
💡 Simply: When you're using the passive voice, it's like the action is being *done to* the subject of the sentence, not by them. For example, 'The cake was eaten by the dog' rather than 'The dog ate the cake.'
👶 For kids: In grammar, when something is passive, it means the thing is getting the action done to it.
More Examples
The passive voice is frequently used in scientific writing.
The report was written by a team of experts.
How It's Used
"The sentence 'The book was read by John' is in the passive voice."
A person who does not take an active part in something; a submissive person.
/ˈpæsɪv/
A person who is not active or involved.
She was a passive observer, content to let others lead.
💡 Simply: Someone who is passive is someone who doesn't really do anything. They just let things happen around them without taking action. Think of it like they are just 'along for the ride'.
👶 For kids: A passive person is someone who doesn't do much.
More Examples
The protest had a lot of active participants, but also many passive onlookers.
Many accused her of being a passive in the political crisis.
How It's Used
"The audience was generally passive during the debate."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
passive smoking
The inhalation of smoke from other people's tobacco products.
"Passive smoking can be detrimental to health."
passive income
Income derived from a rental property, limited partnership, or other enterprise in which a person is not actively involved.
"Many people seek out passive income streams to supplement their earnings."
From Latin *passivus* ('suffering, acted upon'), derived from *pati* ('to suffer, endure').
The term 'passive' has been used in English since the 15th century, initially to describe things that are acted upon rather than acting.
Memory tip
Think of a *pass*ive listener: they just *receive* information, not actively participate.
Word Origin
"to suffer, endure"