passion

noun pas·sion \ ˈpa-shən \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: passion in a Sentence

Definition of passion

1 often capitalized

a : the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death

b : an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion

Bach's St. Matthew Passion

2 obsolete : suffering

3 : the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces

moldable and not moldable … and many other passions of matter
—Francis Bacon

4 a (1) : emotion

his ruling passion is greed

(2) passions plural : the emotions as distinguished from reason

a study of the passions

b : intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction

with enough passion to make a great poet
—W. B. Yeats

c : an outbreak of anger

a crime of passion

5 a : ardent affection : love

He had never felt such passion for any woman but her.

b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

a passion for chess

a passion for opera

c : sexual desire

a look of passion in her face

d : an object of desire or deep interest

—

passionless

play \ˈpa-shən-ləs\ adjective

See passion defined for English-language learners

See passion defined for kids

Examples of passion in a Sentence

If anyone had asked me what my passions were, I would have said building fires, climbing cliffs, going on long hikes in the woods … —Paul Theroux, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2001
The gods themselves had passions and frailties—these are the stuff of the myths. —James Salter, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 1997
The skin is dry and as chaste and beautiful as old paper. But I remember the passion inspired by those fingers, their gifted, sly, infinitely provocative caresses and gestures. —Richard Selzer, Discover, February 1994
Polo was the Khan's passion. He cared for little else, and when his armies moved, he moved with them, because he couldn't stand to be without the game. —Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
Everyone could see the passion in his approach to the work.
a controversy that has stirred passions in Congress
Her performance is full of passion and originality.
She spoke with passion about preserving the building.
The crime was committed in a fit of passion.
Music has always been his passion.
She developed a passion for opera.
a student with a passion for literature

Recent Examples of passion from the Web

Unavailable men’s passion is a force that doesn’t slow down.

— shelly oria, Longreads, "How to Be Single," 2 July 2018
In the case of the shark footage, Huberman teamed up with an A-list photographer named Michael Muller, who has a passion for photographing sharks in the wild.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "A daredevil researcher’s latest quest: to restore sight lost to glaucoma using virtual reality," 2 July 2018
The volume of responses is another small reminder of the passion for high school sports in this state.

— kyle neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "What would you change if you were IHSAA commissioner for a day?," 30 June 2018
There’s a lot of emotion, a lot of passion, behind those games, the fans were loud, (and) the dugouts were loud.

— jason mcdaniel, Houston Chronicle, "Atascocita's Jenika Lombrana named All-Greater Houston softball pitcher of year," 29 June 2018
Ellison was sometimes too much, and too much in ways that are hard to excuse; offenses committed out of an excess of passion are still offenses.

— keith phipps, Vox, "Harlan Ellison wrote Star Trek’s greatest episode. He hated it.," 29 June 2018
Barry felt a twinge of passion at the sight of a Bloomberg up and running.

— gary shteyngart, The New Yorker, "The Luck of Kokura," 18 June 2018
Sally had been a talented nationally ranked tennis player, but her passion was physics.

— bonnie j. dunbar, Scientific American, "Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On," 18 June 2018
Sally had been a talented nationally ranked tennis player, but her passion was physics.

— bonnie j. dunbar, Smithsonian, "An Astronaut Reflects on Sally Ride’s Legacy for Women in STEM," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'passion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of passion

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin passion-, passio suffering, being acted upon, from Latin pati to suffer — more at patient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

passion Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of passion

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

- was a slave to his passions

fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

- read the poem aloud with great fervor

ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

- the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

- never showed much enthusiasm for sports

zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

- preaches with fanatical zeal

synonyms see in addition feeling

PASSION Defined for English Language Learners

passion

noun

Definition of passion for English Language Learners

: a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something
: a strong feeling (such as anger) that causes you to act in a dangerous way
: a strong sexual or romantic feeling for someone

PASSION Defined for Kids

passion

noun pas·sion \ ˈpa-shən \

Definition of passion for Students

1 : a strong feeling or emotion

He spoke with passion.

2 : an object of someone's love, liking, or desire

Art is my passion.

3 : strong liking or desire : love

She has a passion for music.

Law Dictionary

passion

noun pas·sion \ ˈpa-shən \

legal Definition of passion

: intense, driving, or overpowering feeling or emotion; especially : any violent or intense emotion that prevents reflection — see also heat of passion