Definitions for passiveˈpæs ɪv
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
pas•siveˈpæs ɪv(adj.)
not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling.
not participating readily or actively; inactive:
a passive member of a committee.
inert or quiescent.
influenced, acted upon, or affected by some external force, cause, or agency (
Ref: opposed to active ).
receiving or characterized by the reception of impressions or influences from external sources.
produced or caused by an external agency.
receiving, enduring, or submitting without resistance; submissive.
of, pertaining to, or being a voice, verb form, or construction having a subject represented as undergoing the action expressed by the verb, as the sentence The letter was written last week (
Category: Grammar
Ref: opposed to active ).
chemically inactive, esp. under conditions in which chemical activity is to be expected.
Category: Chemistry
(of a metal) treated so as to render corrosion-resistant.
Category: Metallurgy
(of a solar heating system) functioning without the aid of machinery, as pumps.
Category: Common Vocabulary, Energy
(n.)the passive voice.
Category: Grammar
a passive verb form or construction.
Category: Grammar
Origin of passive:
1350–1400; ME < L passīvus lit., submissive =pass(us) (ptp. of patī to experience, undergo) +-īvus -ive
pas′sive•ly(adv.)
Princeton's WordNet
passive voice, passive(adj)
the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
"`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice"; "`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive"
passive, inactive(adj)
lacking in energy or will
"Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith
passive, peaceful(adj)
peacefully resistant in response to injustice
"passive resistance"
passive(adj)
expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb
"academics seem to favor passive sentences"
Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary
passive(adjective)ˈpæs ɪv
accepting whatever happens
passive behavior; a passive child
passiveˈpæs ɪv
≠ active
a passive sentence
passive(noun)ˈpæs ɪv
≠ active
Change these sentences into the passive.
Wiktionary
passive(Noun)
The passive voice of verbs.
passive(Noun)
A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.
passive(Adjective)
Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
passive(Adjective)
Taking no action.
He remained passive during the protest.
passive(Adjective)
Being in the passive voice.
passive(Adjective)
Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
passive(Adjective)
Not participating in management.
Origin: From passif, from passivus, from pati, past participle of passus; compare patient.
Webster Dictionary
Passive(adj)
not active, but acted upon; suffering or receiving impressions or influences; as, they were passive spectators, not actors in the scene
Passive(adj)
receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient; not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive submission
Passive(adj)
inactive; inert; not showing strong affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive
Passive(adj)
designating certain morbid conditions, as hemorrhage or dropsy, characterized by relaxation of the vessels and tissues, with deficient vitality and lack of reaction in the affected tissues
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
passive
In surveillance, an adjective applied to actions or equipments which emit no energy capable of being detected.
Translations for passive
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary
passive(adjective)
showing no interest, emotion etc, or not resisting an attack etc
The villagers showed passive resistance to the enemy
- passiefAfrikaans
- غَيْر فَعّال، سَلْبيArabic
- безучастенBulgarian
- passivoPortuguese (BR)
- pasivníCzech
- passivGerman
- passivDanish
- παθητικός, απαθήςGreek
- pasivoSpanish
- passiivneEstonian
- بی تفاوت؛ آرامFarsi
- passiivinenFinnish
- passifFrench
- פָּאסִיבִיHebrew
- निष्क्रियHindi
- pasivan, bez otporaCroatian
- passzívHungarian
- pasifIndonesian
- aðgerðalaus, óvirkurIcelandic
- passivoItalian
- 消極的なJapanese
- 수동적인Korean
- pasyvus, abejingasLithuanian
- pasīvsLatvian
- pasifMalay
- passiefDutch
- passivNorwegian
- biernyPolish
- بی تفاوت؛ آرامPersian
- زغمونكۍ، ګالونكى، متحمل صابر:غير فعالPashto
- passivoPortuguese
- pasivRomanian
- пассивныйRussian
- pasívnySlovak
- pasivenSlovenian
- pasivanSerbian
- passivSwedish
- ซึ่งไม่มีปฏิกิริยาThai
- pasif, tepki göstermeyenTurkish
- 消極的Chinese (Trad.)
- пасивний, бездіяльнийUkrainian
- انفعالي، خاموشي سے برداشت کرنے والاUrdu
- thụ độngVietnamese
- 消极的Chinese (Simp.)
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