Passion is strong sexual feelings towards someone.
...my passion for a dark-haired, slender boy named James. [+ for]
...the expression of love and passion.
...Maggy, the object of his passions.
2. uncountable noun
Passion is a very strong feeling about something or a strong belief in something.
He spoke with great passion.
...the passion and commitment of the Republican candidate.
3. countable noun
If you have a passion for something, you have a very strong interest in it and like it very much.
She had a passion for gardening. [+ for]
His other great passion was Italy.
Synonyms: mania, fancy, enthusiasm, obsession More Synonyms of passion
More Synonyms of passion
passion in British English
(ˈpæʃən)
noun
1.
ardent love or affection
2.
intense sexual love
3.
a strong affection or enthusiasm for an object, concept, etc
a passion for poetry
4.
any strongly felt emotion, such as love, hate, envy, etc
5.
a state or outburst of extreme anger
she flew into a passion
6.
the object of an intense desire, ardent affection, or enthusiasm
7.
an outburst expressing intense emotion
he burst into a passion of sobs
8. philosophy
a.
any state of the mind in which it is affected by something external, such as perception, desire, etc, as contrasted with action
b.
feelings, desires or emotions, as contrasted with reason
Also called: the passions
9.
the sufferings and death of a Christian martyr
Word origin
C12: via French from Church Latin passiō suffering, from Latin patī to suffer
Passion in British English
(ˈpæʃən)
noun
1.
the sufferings of Christ from the Last Supper to his death on the cross
2.
any of the four Gospel accounts of this
3.
a musical setting of this
the St Matthew Passion
passion in American English
(ˈpæʃən)
noun
1.
a. Archaic
suffering or agony, as of a martyr
b. Rare
an account of this
2. [P-]
a.
the sufferings of Jesus, beginning with his agony in the garden of Gethsemane and continuing to his death on the Cross
b.
any of the Gospel narratives of Jesus' Passion and of accompanying events
c.
an artistic work, as an oratorio or a play, based on these narratives
3.
a.
any one of the emotions, as hate, grief, love, fear, joy, etc.
b. [pl.]
all such emotions collectively
4.
extreme, compelling emotion; intense emotional drive or excitement
; specif.,
a.
great anger; rage; fury
b.
enthusiasm or fondness
a passion for music
c.
strong love or affection
d.
sexual drive or desire; lust
5.
the object of any strong desire or fondness
6. Obsolete
the condition of being acted upon, esp. by outside influences
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfeeling
SYNONYMY NOTE: passion usually implies a strong emotion that has an overpowering or compelling effect [his passions overcame his reason]; fervor, ardor both imply emotion of burning intensity, , fervor suggesting a constant glow of feeling [religious fervor], and ardor, a restless, flamelike emotion [the ardors of youth]; enthusiasm implies strongly favorable feelings for an object or cause and usually suggests eagernessin the pursuit of something [her enthusiasm for golf]; zeal implies intense enthusiasm for an object or cause, usually as displayed in vigorousand untiring activity in its support [a zeal for reform]
Word origin
OFr < LL(Ec) passio, a suffering, esp. that of Christ (< L passus, pp. of pati, to endure < IE base *pē-, to harm > Gr pēma, destruction, L paene, scarcely): transl. of Gr pathos: see pathos
Examples of 'passion' in a sentence
passion
By then the couple had shared ten years together, and of the initial flames of passion, only glowing embers remained.
José Latour OUTCAST (2002)
Quotations
In passion, the body and the spirit seek expression outside of selfJohn Boormanjournal entry
A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome themCarl Gustav JungMemories, Dreams, Reflections
Word lists with
passion
Types of composition
In other languages
passion
British English: passion /ˈpæʃən/ NOUN
Passion is a very strong feeling of sexual attraction for someone.
I had a passion for a dark-haired boy named James.
American English: passion
Arabic: عِشْقٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: paixão
Chinese: 热情
Croatian: strast
Czech: vášeň
Danish: lidenskab
Dutch: passie
European Spanish: pasión
Finnish: intohimo
French: passion
German: Leidenschaft
Greek: πάθος
Italian: passione
Japanese: 熱情
Korean: 열정
Norwegian: lidenskap
Polish: pasja
European Portuguese: paixão
Romanian: pasiune
Russian: страсть
Latin American Spanish: pasión
Swedish: passion
Thai: อารมณ์อันเร่าร้อน
Turkish: tutku
Ukrainian: пристрасть
Vietnamese: sự đam mê
All related terms of 'passion'
grand passion
an intense or overwhelming attraction or love
passion fruit
A passion fruit is a small, round , brown fruit that is produced by certain types of tropical flower.
Passion play
a play depicting the Passion of Christ
Passion Week
the week between Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday
passion killer
something that is sexually unattractive or inhibiting
Passion Sunday
the fifth Sunday in Lent (the second Sunday before Easter ), when Passiontide begins
crime of passion
a crime , often a murder , committed from passion , esp sexual passion
granadilla
any of various passionflowers , such as Passiflora quadrangularis ( giant granadilla ), that have edible egg-shaped fleshy fruit
grenadilla
any of various passionflowers , such as Passiflora quadrangularis ( giant granadilla ), that have edible egg-shaped fleshy fruit
Our love for each other has been increased by what we've been through together.
desire
Aaron was suddenly overwhelmed by desire.
affection
She thought of him with affection.
lust
It was his lust for glitz and glamour that was driving them apart.
the hots (slang)
attachment
I feel a strong attachment to my home town.
itch
an insatiable itch to switch from channel to channel
fondness
a great fondness for children
adoration
They gazed at each other with mutual adoration.
infatuation
ardour
keenness
the keenness of the students
concupiscence (formal)
2 (noun)
Definition
any strongly felt emotion
Her eyes were blazing with passion.
Synonyms
emotion
My voice trembled with emotion.
feeling
a voice that trembles with feeling
fire
His punishing schedule seemed to dim his fire at times.
heat
It was all done in the heat of the moment.
spirit
They played with spirit.
transport
in a great transport of rage
joy
excitement
The audience was in a state of great excitement.
intensity
His intensity, and the ferocity of his feelings alarmed me.
warmth
He greeted us both with warmth.
animation
They both spoke with animation.
zeal
his zeal for teaching
zest
He has a zest for life and a quick intellect.
fervour
an outbreak of religious fervour
eagerness
the voice of a woman speaking with breathless eagerness
rapture
ardour
Their romantic ardour had cooled.
Opposites
hate
,
indifference
,
apathy
,
coolness
,
coldness
,
calmness
,
frigidity
,
unconcern
3 (noun)
Definition
the object of an intense desire or enthusiasm
She has a passion for gardening.Mountaineering is his passion.
Synonyms
mania
They had a mania for travelling.
fancy
enthusiasm
the current enthusiasm for skateboarding
obsession
yet another man with an obsession about football
bug (informal)
I've definitely been bitten by the gardening bug.
craving
fascination
I've had a lifelong fascination with the sea.
craze
a magazine article about the latest fitness craze
infatuation
Teenagers have their own infatuations.
4 (noun)
Sam flew into a passion at the suggestion.a crime of passion
Synonyms
rage
The people are full of fear and rage.
fit
storm
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
anger
He cried with anger and frustration.
fury
She screamed, her face distorted with fury.
resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.
outburst
an outburst of anger
frenzy
Something like a frenzy enveloped them.
wrath
His action incurred the wrath of animal rights activists.
indignation
No wonder he could hardly contain his indignation.
flare-up (informal)
ire
Their ire was directed mainly at the two instigators.
vehemence
He spoke loudly and with more vehemence than he had intended.
paroxysm
She was overcome by a paroxysm of grief.
Quotations
In passion, the body and the spirit seek expression outside of self [John Boorman – journal entry]A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them [Carl Gustav Jung – Memories, Dreams, Reflections]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adoration
They gazed at each other with mutual adoration.
Synonyms
love,
honour,
worship,
worshipping,
esteem,
admiration,
reverence,
estimation,
exaltation,
veneration,
glorification,
idolatry,
idolization
in the sense of affection
Definition
fondness or tenderness for a person or thing
She thought of him with affection.
Synonyms
fondness,
liking,
feeling,
love,
care,
desire,
passion,
warmth,
attachment,
goodwill,
devotion,
kindness,
inclination,
tenderness,
propensity,
friendliness,
amity (formal),
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of anger
Definition
a feeling of extreme annoyance or displeasure
He cried with anger and frustration.
Synonyms
rage,
passion,
outrage,
temper,
fury,
resentment,
irritation,
wrath,
indignation,
annoyance,
agitation,
ire,
antagonism,
displeasure,
exasperation,
irritability,
spleen,
pique,
ill temper,
vehemence,
vexation,
high dudgeon,
ill humour,
choler,
be on your back (slang)
Synonyms of 'passion'
passion
Explore 'passion' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animation
Definition
liveliness and enthusiasm
They both spoke with animation.
Synonyms
liveliness,
life,
action,
activity,
energy,
spirit,
passion,
enthusiasm,
excitement,
pep,
sparkle,
vitality,
vigour,
zeal,
verve,
zest,
fervour,
high spirits,
dynamism,
buoyancy,
elation,
exhilaration,
welly (slang),
gaiety,
ardour (old-fashioned),
vibrancy,
brio,
zing (informal),
vivacity,
ebullience,
briskness,
airiness,
sprightliness,
pizzazz or pizazz (informal)
in the sense of ardour
Definition
emotional warmth
Their romantic ardour had cooled.
Synonyms
passion,
feeling,
fire,
heat,
spirit,
intensity,
warmth,
devotion,
fervour,
vehemence,
fierceness
in the sense of attachment
Definition
affection or regard for
I feel a strong attachment to my home town.
Synonyms
fondness,
liking,
feeling,
love,
relationship,
regard,
bond,
friendship,
attraction,
loyalty,
affection,
devotion,
fidelity,
affinity,
tenderness,
reverence,
predilection,
possessiveness,
partiality,
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of bug
Definition
an obsessive idea or hobby
I've definitely been bitten by the gardening bug.
Synonyms
mania,
passion,
rage,
obsession,
craze,
fad,
thing (informal)
in the sense of concupiscence
Definition
strong sexual desire
Synonyms
lust,
desire,
appetite,
libido,
lechery,
lasciviousness,
horniness (slang),
randiness (informal, British),
lustfulness,
libidinousness,
lickerishness (archaic)
in the sense of craze
Definition
a short-lived fashion or enthusiasm
a magazine article about the latest fitness craze
Synonyms
fad,
thing (informal),
fashion,
trend,
passion,
rage,
enthusiasm,
mode,
vogue,
novelty,
preoccupation,
mania,
infatuation,
the latest thing (informal)
in the sense of desire
Definition
sexual appetite
Aaron was suddenly overwhelmed by desire.
Synonyms
lust,
passion,
libido,
appetite,
lechery,
carnality,
lasciviousness,
concupiscence,
randiness (informal, British),
lustfulness
in the sense of eagerness
the voice of a woman speaking with breathless eagerness
Synonyms
passion,
interest,
enthusiasm,
intensity,
fervour,
ardour,
earnestness,
keenness,
heartiness,
thirst,
intentness
in the sense of enthusiasm
the current enthusiasm for skateboarding
Synonyms
interest,
passion,
rage,
hobby,
obsession,
craze,
fad (informal),
mania,
hobbyhorse
in the sense of excitement
Definition
the state of being excited
The audience was in a state of great excitement.
Synonyms
exhilaration,
action,
activity,
passion,
heat,
thrill,
adventure,
enthusiasm,
fever,
warmth,
flurry,
animation,
furore,
ferment,
agitation,
commotion,
elation,
ado,
tumult,
perturbation,
discomposure
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fascination
I've had a lifelong fascination with the sea.
Synonyms
obsession,
interest,
complex (informal),
enthusiasm,
hang-up (informal),
preoccupation,
mania,
fetish,
fixation,
infatuation,
ruling passion,
idée fixe,
bee in your bonnet (informal),
thing (informal)
in the sense of feeling
a voice that trembles with feeling
Synonyms
passion,
heat,
emotion,
intensity,
warmth,
sentimentality
in the sense of fervour
Definition
great intensity of feeling or belief
an outbreak of religious fervour
Synonyms
ardour,
passion,
enthusiasm,
excitement,
intensity,
warmth,
animation,
zeal,
eagerness,
vehemence,
earnestness,
fervency
in the sense of fire
Definition
passion and enthusiasm
His punishing schedule seemed to dim his fire at times.
Synonyms
passion,
force,
light,
energy,
heat,
spirit,
enthusiasm,
excitement,
dash,
intensity,
sparkle,
life,
vitality,
animation,
vigour,
zeal,
splendour,
verve,
fervour,
eagerness,
dynamism,
lustre,
radiance,
welly (slang),
virtuosity,
élan,
ardour,
brio,
vivacity,
impetuosity,
burning passion,
scintillation,
fervency,
pizzazz or pizazz (informal)
in the sense of fondness
a great fondness for children
Synonyms
devotion,
love,
affection,
warmth,
attachment,
kindness,
tenderness,
care,
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of frenzy
Definition
violent or wild and uncontrollable behaviour
Something like a frenzy enveloped them.
Synonyms
fury,
transport,
passion,
rage,
madness,
turmoil,
distraction,
seizure,
hysteria,
mania,
agitation,
aberration,
delirium,
paroxysm
in the sense of fury
Definition
violent anger
She screamed, her face distorted with fury.
Synonyms
anger,
passion,
rage,
madness (informal),
frenzy,
wrath,
ire,
red mist (informal),
impetuosity
in the sense of heat
Definition
intensity of feeling
It was all done in the heat of the moment.
Synonyms
passion,
excitement,
intensity,
violence,
fever,
fury,
warmth,
zeal,
agitation,
fervour,
ardour,
vehemence,
earnestness,
impetuosity
in the sense of indignation
Definition
anger aroused by something felt to be unfair or wrong
No wonder he could hardly contain his indignation.
Synonyms
resentment,
anger,
rage,
fury,
wrath,
ire (literary),
exasperation,
pique,
umbrage,
righteous anger
in the sense of infatuation
Teenagers have their own infatuations.
Synonyms
obsession,
thing (informal),
passion,
crush (informal),
madness,
folly,
fixation,
foolishness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intensity
Definition
the state or quality of being intense
His intensity, and the ferocity of his feelings alarmed me.
Synonyms
passion,
emotion,
fervour,
force,
power,
fire,
energy,
strength,
depth,
concentration,
excess,
severity,
vigour,
potency,
extremity,
welly (slang),
fanaticism,
ardour,
vehemence,
earnestness,
keenness,
fierceness,
fervency,
intenseness
in the sense of ire
Definition
anger
Their ire was directed mainly at the two instigators.
Synonyms
anger,
rage,
fury,
wrath,
passion,
indignation,
annoyance,
displeasure,
exasperation,
choler
in the sense of itch
Definition
a restless desire
an insatiable itch to switch from channel to channel
Synonyms
desire,
longing,
craving,
passion,
yen (informal),
hunger,
lust,
yearning,
hankering,
restlessness
in the sense of keenness
the keenness of the students
Synonyms
eagerness,
passion,
enthusiasm,
intensity,
zeal,
zest,
impatience,
fervour,
diligence,
ardour,
earnestness,
ebullience,
avidity,
avidness
in the sense of lust
Definition
a strong desire or drive
It was his lust for glitz and glamour that was driving them apart.
Synonyms
desire,
longing,
passion,
appetite,
craving,
greed,
thirst,
cupidity (formal),
covetousness,
avidity,
appetence
in the sense of obsession
Definition
a persistent idea or impulse, often associated with anxiety and mental illness
yet another man with an obsession about football
Synonyms
preoccupation,
thing (informal),
complex,
enthusiasm,
addiction,
hang-up (informal),
mania,
phobia,
fetish,
fixation,
infatuation,
ruling passion,
pet subject,
hobbyhorse,
idée fixe,
bee in your bonnet (informal)
in the sense of outburst
Definition
a sudden period of violent activity
an outburst of anger
Synonyms
fit,
storm,
attack,
gush,
flare-up,
eruption,
spasm,
outpouring,
paroxysm,
access
in the sense of paroxysm
Definition
a fit or convulsion
She was overcome by a paroxysm of grief.
Synonyms
outburst,
attack,
fit,
seizure,
flare-up (informal),
eruption,
spasm,
convulsion
in the sense of resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.
Synonyms
bitterness,
indignation,
ill feeling,
ill will,
hurt,
anger,
rage,
fury,
irritation,
grudge,
wrath,
malice,
animosity,
huff,
ire,
displeasure,
pique,
rancour,
bad blood,
umbrage,
vexation,
gall,
chip on your shoulder (informal)
in the sense of spirit
Definition
liveliness shown in what a person does
They played with spirit.
Synonyms
liveliness,
energy,
vigour,
life,
force,
fire,
resolution,
enterprise,
enthusiasm,
sparkle,
warmth,
animation,
zest,
mettle,
welly (slang),
ardour,
earnestness,
brio
Additional synonyms
in the sense of storm
Definition
a violent disturbance or quarrel
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
Synonyms
outburst,
row,
stir,
outcry,
furore,
violence,
anger,
passion,
outbreak,
turmoil,
disturbance,
strife,
clamour,
agitation,
commotion,
rumpus,
tumult,
hubbub
in the sense of transport
in a great transport of rage
Synonyms
frenzy,
fit,
passion,
fervour,
rhapsody,
paroxysm
in the sense of vehemence
He spoke loudly and with more vehemence than he had intended.
Synonyms
forcefulness,
force,
violence,
fire,
energy,
heat,
passion,
emphasis,
enthusiasm,
intensity,
warmth,
vigour,
zeal,
verve,
fervour,
eagerness,
welly (slang),
ardour,
earnestness,
keenness,
fervency
in the sense of warmth
Definition
affection or cordiality
He greeted us both with warmth.
Synonyms
affection,
feeling,
love,
goodwill,
kindness,
tenderness,
friendliness,
cheerfulness,
amity (formal),
cordiality,
affability,
kindliness,
heartiness,
amorousness,
hospitableness,
fondness,
happiness
in the sense of wrath
Definition
intense anger
His action incurred the wrath of animal rights activists.
Synonyms
anger,
passion,
rage,
temper,
fury,
resentment,
irritation,
indignation,
ire,
displeasure,
exasperation,
choler
in the sense of zeal
Definition
great enthusiasm or eagerness, esp. for a religious movement