passive en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈpæs.ɪv/ (UK, US)
- (US) audio
- păsʹ-ĭv (UK, US)
Etymology
From Middle English passyf, passyve, from Middle French, French passif, from Latin passivus (“serving to express the suffering of an action; in late Latin literally capable of suffering or feeling”), from passus, past participle of pati (“to suffer”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hurt”); compare patient.
Meanings
- Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
-
Taking no action.
He remained passive during the protest.
- Being in the passive voice.
- Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
- Not participating in management.
-
Without motive power.
passive flight, such as gliding and soaring
a passive balloon
a passive aeroplane
- Of a component: that consumes but does not produce energy, or is incapable of power gain.
-
(in "passive provision") Where allowance is made for a possible future event.
There would be a shuttle service of four trains an hour from Reading, where the rebuilt station also has passive provision for the trains.
2021 May 5, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Heathrow Western Rail Access scheme 'on hold'”, in RAIL, number 930, page 26:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most passive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more passive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
zippy · dominant · aggressive · gay · sassy · alive · zestful · active · spirited · glowing · zealous · sprightly · diligent · kinetic · buxom · dynamic · happy · sprunt · vivid · buzzing · effervescent · motivated · nimble · energetic · vibrant · spry · merry · agile · mobile · active · animated · busy · active · eager · busy as a bee · airy · moving · hearty · snappy · impetuous · peppy · keen · genki · brisk · lively · animate · enthusiastic · driven · abuzz · youthful · driving · industrious · restive · frisky · expeditious · perky · wanton · vigorous · vivacious
Deriveds
passive radar · antipassive · passivist · passivity · passive vocabulary · passive solar · pseudopassive · passive vaper · pseudo-passive · passive gravitational mass · passivization · passive photolocation · long passive · passive resistance · interpassive · passivate · passive provision · activo-passive · passive smoke · passive-aggressive · endopassive · paggro · passivize · passive investor · nonpassive · unpassive · passive matrix · passively · mediopassive · passive-dependent · passive box · passive suffrage · passive smoking · passive vaping · passivise · passival · passivism · passive learning · passive iron · passiveness · transpassive · passive vapouring · passive resister · passive defense · passive smoker · exopassive · passive voice · passive immunity · passive restraint · passive vaporing · passifan · passive speaker · passivation · passive aggressor · passivistic · passive income · passive participle · passive vape · passive armour · passive euthanasia · neutropassive
Relateds
passion · patient · passionate · patience
Synonyms
quiescent · idle · cessant · unoccupied · disinterested · passive · governable · maniable · manageable · controllable · sedent · pliant · submissive · complaisant · compliant · slow · docile · dormant · uninvolved · inert · passive · inactive · indulgent · nonactive · unbusy · sedentary · yielding · meek · unactive · dull · compliant · abeyant · standing by · hibernating · inactive · rulable · fallow · unemployed · amenable · silent · suspended · idle · at rest · torpid · tractable · pliant · biddable · languid · latent
Translations (115)
fi passiivinen (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ru пасси́вный (grammar: being in the passive voice) · nl lijdelijk (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fa پاسیو (not active, but acted upon) · ro pasiv (not active, but acted upon) · tr pasif (grammar: being in the passive voice) · kn ಕರ್ಮಣಿ (grammar: being in the passive voice) · be пасы́ўны (not active, but acted upon) · tr pasif (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · pt passivo (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · de passiv (not active, but acted upon) · de passivisch (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sh трпни (grammar: being in the passive voice) · enm passyf (taking no action) · sk nečinný (taking no action) · de leidend (grammar: being in the passive voice) · bg паси́вен (grammar: being in the passive voice) · grc παθητικός (grammar: being in the passive voice) · it passivo (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · hu passzív (not active, but acted upon) · sv passiv (grammar: being in the passive voice) · el παθητική (grammar: being in the passive voice) · nl passief (finance: not bearing interest) · cs pasivní (not active, but acted upon) · enm passyf (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sl trpen (grammar: being in the passive voice) · vi bị động (not active, but acted upon) · hu szenvedő (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ar مَبْنِيٌّ لِلْمَجْهُول (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fi passiivinen (not active, but acted upon) · sh пасиван (grammar: being in the passive voice) · tl balintiyak (grammar: being in the passive voice) · cmn 被動 /被动 (grammar: being in the passive voice) · lt pasyvus (not active, but acted upon) · no passiv (grammar: being in the passive voice) · da passiv (grammar: being in the passive voice) · et loid (taking no action) · et loid (not active, but acted upon) · sk pasívny (not active, but acted upon) · de unterwürfig (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · ru страда́тельный (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sl pasiven (grammar: being in the passive voice) · pt passivo (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ca passiu (not active, but acted upon) · nv hoołtsoodii (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · nl passief (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · ja 受動態 (grammar: being in the passive voice) · pt passivo (taking no action) · fi koroton (finance: not bearing interest) · it passivo (not active, but acted upon) · bg паси́вен (not active, but acted upon) · enm passyf (not active, but acted upon) · be пасы́ўны (grammar: being in the passive voice) · nl passief (not active, but acted upon) · ko 수동태 (grammar: being in the passive voice) · et passiiv (grammar: being in the passive voice) · grc παθητικός (not active, but acted upon) · fa منفعل (not active, but acted upon) · uk паси́вний (not active, but acted upon) · ru пасси́вный (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · bg страда́телен (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ja 受動的 (not active, but acted upon) · it passivo (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sk pasívny (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · kk ырықсыз (grammar: being in the passive voice) · be зале́жны (grammar: being in the passive voice) · vi bị động (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fr passif (grammar: being in the passive voice) · es pasivo (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · sh trpni (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fa مجهول (grammar: being in the passive voice) · cmn 被動 /被动 (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · es pasivo (not active, but acted upon) · hi निष्क्रिय (not active, but acted upon) · uk паси́вний (grammar: being in the passive voice) · cs trpný (grammar: being in the passive voice) · pt passivo (not active, but acted upon) · pl bierny (taking no action) · nl passief (grammar: being in the passive voice) · gd fulangach (grammar: being in the passive voice) · mk пасивен (grammar: being in the passive voice) · tr edilgen (grammar: being in the passive voice) · arc ܚܵܫܘܿܫܵܐ (not active, but acted upon) · nl passief (taking no action) · pl bierny (grammar: being in the passive voice) · pl bierny (not active, but acted upon) · cmn 消極 /消极 (not active, but acted upon) · fi passiivinen (psychology: being inactive and receptive in a relationship) · az məchul (grammar: being in the passive voice) · nl lijdend (grammar: being in the passive voice) · hy կրավորական (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ru пасси́вный (not active, but acted upon) · ja 受け身 (not active, but acted upon) · fr passif (not active, but acted upon) · sk trpný (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ang þrowiendlīċ (not active, but acted upon) · ga céasta (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fa پاسیو (taking no action) · de leidentlich (grammar: being in the passive voice) · de passiv (grammar: being in the passive voice) · fi passiivinen (taking no action) · bg бездеен (taking no action) · ru пасси́вный (taking no action) · sq pësor (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ru безде́ятельный (taking no action) · no passiv (taking no action) · de passiv (taking no action) · fi passiivimuotoinen (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sv passiv (not active, but acted upon) · vi thụ động (taking no action) · arc ܚܵܫܘܿܫܵܐ (grammar: being in the passive voice) · ga fulangach (taking no action) · sh pasivan (grammar: being in the passive voice) · sk pasívny (taking no action) · sv passiv (taking no action)