Definitions for passive
ˈpæs ɪvpas·sive

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. passive voice, passiveadjective

   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"

2. passive, inactiveadjective

   lacking in energy or will

   "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith

3. passive, peacefuladjective

   peacefully resistant in response to injustice

   "passive resistance"

4. passiveadjective

   expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb

   "academics seem to favor passive sentences"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. passivenoun

   The passive voice of verbs.

2. passivenoun

   A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.

3. passiveadjective

   Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.

4. passiveadjective

   Taking no action.

   He remained passive during the protest.

5. passiveadjective

   Being in the passive voice.

6. passiveadjective

   Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.

7. passiveadjective

   Not participating in management.

8. Etymology: From passif, from passivus, from pati, past participle of passus; compare patient.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. PASSIVEadjective

   Etymology: passif, French; passivus, Latin.

   1. Receiving impression from some external agent.

   High above the ground
   Their march was, and the passive air upbore
   Their nimble tread. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   The active informations of the intellect, filling the passive reception of the will, like form closing with matter, grew actuate into a third and distinct perfection of practice. South.

   As the mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas, so it exerts several acts of its own, whereby, out of its simple ideas, the other is formed. John Locke.

   The vis inertiæ is a passive principle by which bodies persist in their motion or rest, receive motion in proportion to the force impressing it, and resist as much as they are resisted: by this principle alone, there never could have been any motion in the world. Isaac Newton, Opticks.

   2. Unresisting; not opposing.

   Not those alone, who passive own her laws,
   But who, weak rebels, more advance her cause. Dunciad.

   3. Suffering; not acting.4. [In grammar.]

   A verb passive is that which signifies passion or the effect of action: as, doceor, I am taught. John Clarke, Lat. Gram.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Passiveadjective

   not active, but acted upon; suffering or receiving impressions or influences; as, they were passive spectators, not actors in the scene

2. Passiveadjective

   receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient; not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive submission

3. Passiveadjective

   inactive; inert; not showing strong affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive

4. Passiveadjective

   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

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Passive

   "Passive" is a song from the band A Perfect Circle's 2004 album eMOTIVe The song is a remake of the song "Vacant" by the now-defunct band Tapeworm. "Vacant" was notably first performed by A Perfect Circle without Trent Reznor's agreement.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Passive

   pas′iv, adj. suffering, unresisting: not acting: (gram.) expressing the suffering of an action by the subject of the verb.—adv. Pass′ively.—ns. Pass′iveness, Passiv′ity, inactivity: patience: tendency of a body to preserve a given state, either of motion or of rest. [Fr.,—L. passivus—pati, suffer.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. passive

   In surveillance, an adjective applied to actions or equipments which emit no energy capable of being detected.

Matched Categories

1. • Grammar

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'passive' in Adjectives Frequency: #812

How to pronounce passive?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say passive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of passive in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of passive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of passive in a Sentence

1. George Schultze:

   For investors that have had big gains and are mostly in passive ETF strategies, now may be a good time to put some cash on the side and realize some gains.

2. Bernard Iddings Bell:

   To love is not a passive thing. To love is active voice. When I love I do something, I function, I give. I do not love in order that I may be loved back again, but for the creative joy of loving. And every time I do so love I am freed, at least a little, by the outgoing of love, from enslavement to that most intolerable of master, myself.

3. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   In the course of lifetime, you will meet many people who will misconstrue your gentle manners with weakness, and try to either take advantage of you, or intimidate you. You must be strong, as strong as the Diamond, while dealing with such predatory people. You must show them by your words and actions that your gentleness is not weakness that can be pushed around. You must make them realize that your compassion, kindness and humility mustn't be mistaken as passive or meek behavior. In my view, week, timid and spineless are those predatory people, who lack strength and courage; while you are the one with true inner strength and tremendous courage - because it is the Gentleness that is indeed founded on strength and prompted by Love. Stay gentle, kind, compassionate and yet extremely strong - because you are the Diamond, and you must maintain your character.

4. George Orwell:

   For the ordinary man is passive. Within a narrow circle (home life, and perhaps the trade unions or local politics) he feels himself master of his fate, but against major events he is as helpless as against the elements. So far from endeavouring to influence the future, he simply lies down and lets things happen to him.

5. David Hill:

   Passive viewing is still children's number one activity, whether it's a video game, or laptop or desktop computer, children are still sitting.

Popularity rank by frequency of use