devotion

noun

de·​vo·​tion di-ˈvō-shən 

dē-

1

a

: religious fervor : piety

b

: an act of prayer or private worship

—usually plural

during his morning devotions

c

: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate (see corporate sense 2) worship of a congregation

2

a

: the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity : the act of devoting

the devotion of a great deal of time and energy

b

: the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal

her devotion to the cause

filial devotion

3

obsolete : the object of one's devotion

Did you know?

Devotion Has Latin Roots

Devotion and the verb devote come from the act of taking a vow (the Latin verb vovēre means "to vow"). Devote was once used as an adjective that could mean either "devout" or "devoted." While devout implies faithfulness of a religious nature ("a devout parishioner), devoted refers to one's commitment to another through love and loyalty ("a singer's devoted fans").

Synonyms of devotion

• love
• affection
• passion

Choose the Right Synonym for devotion

fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.

fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

Examples of devotion in a Sentence

She has cared for the poor with selfless devotion.

The devotion they felt for each other was obvious.

The project will require the devotion of a great deal of time and money.

They spend an hour each morning at their devotions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps no couple can claim more miles logged in the name of warehouse devotion than New York residents David and Susan Schwartz. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Chrome’s trashy, thrashy playing wedded the urgency of punk with devotion to older, sleazy rock ’n’ roll. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

In the republic’s 250th year, service of this length and this devotion belongs to no party. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026

From grandmother to grandchild, these three sets of two sisters were powerful characters possessed with passion, willfulness, bravery, and devotion to each other. — Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see devote

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for devotion

• commotion
• demotion
• emotion
• laotian
• promotion
• locomotion
• lotion
• notion
• ocean
• potion

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Kids Definition

devotion

noun

de·​vo·​tion di-ˈvō-shən 

1

a

: strong religious feeling

b

: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular worship of a congregation

2

a

: the act of devoting or the quality of being devoted

b

: strong love, affection, or dedication

devotional

-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

devotionally

-ē

adverb