passionate
PA-shuh-niht
Passionate (adjective) means showing or feeling very strong emotion or enthusiasm. Example: “My grandmother is a passionate gardener who grows roses in every corner of her yard.”
adjective
1
Showing or feeling very strong emotion or enthusiasm.
"My grandmother is a passionate gardener who grows roses in every corner of her yard."
"She gave a passionate speech about climate change."
"He's passionate about protecting local wildlife."
How to use passionate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of strong feeling — whether about a cause, a hobby, or a relationship.
Common pairings
passionate about
passionate affair
passionate speech
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- passionates
- Past tense
- passionated
- Comparative
- more passionate
- Superlative
- most passionate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My grandmother is a _____ gardener who grows roses in every corner of her yard.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin passionatus, "affected with strong feeling," from passion.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
passionless
Related words
Rhymes for passionate
See all rhymes for passionate →Frequently asked questions
What does “passionate” mean?
The word “passionate” means showing or feeling very strong emotion or enthusiasm. In plain terms, full of strong feeling — whether about a cause, a hobby, or a relationship.
How do you pronounce “passionate”?
“Passionate” is pronounced PA-shuh-niht (/ˈpæʃənɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “passionate” in a sentence?
Here is “passionate” used in a sentence: “She gave a passionate speech about climate change.”
What part of speech is “passionate”?
“Passionate” is an adjective.
Where does the word “passionate” come from?
The word “passionate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin passionatus, "affected with strong feeling," from passion.
Is “passionate” a common word?
“Passionate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between passionate and compassionate?
Passionate means showing or feeling very strong emotion or enthusiasm, while compassionate means feeling sympathy and concern for the suffering of others. Despite looking similar, the words are not interchangeable: a passionate speech is fiery, while a compassionate response is kind.
Is it passionate about or passionate for?
The standard collocation is "passionate about": she is passionate about music. The related noun, however, takes "for" — a passion for music — which is why the two patterns are often confused.
What is the difference between passionate and enthusiastic?
Enthusiastic describes eager interest and excitement, while passionate describes a deeper, more intense emotional commitment. Passionate is the stronger word: an enthusiastic supporter cheers, while a passionate one is emotionally invested.
Is passionate always a positive word?
Usually, but not always. Passionate most often describes admirable enthusiasm, love, or dedication, yet because it covers any very strong emotion it can also describe anger, as in "a passionate outburst".
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