accepting what happens without trying to control or change events or to react to things
a helpless and passive victim
Watchingtelevision is a relatively passive activity.
Synonyms and related words
Showing no emotions and unaffected by emotions
blank
restrained
impassive
2
linguisticsin passive verbs or clauses, the subject is the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. For example in the sentence ‘The order was delivered the next day’, the verb group ‘was delivered’ is passive, and the clause is in the passive voice.
Synonyms and related words
Describing words, clauses and sentences
anaphoric
cataphoric
compound
See alsoactive
See alsovoice
derived words
passively
adverb
Synonyms and related words
Showing no emotions and unaffected by emotions
blank
restrained
impassive
passivity
noun
Synonyms and related words
Showing no emotions and unaffected by emotions
blank
restrained
impassive
Synonyms and related words
Lack of action or activity
inaction
avoidance
standstill
passive
adjective
US /ˈpæsɪv/
Other entries for this word
the passivenoun
passive smokingnoun
passive resistancenoun
DEFINITIONS2
1
accepting what happens without trying to control or change events or to react to things
a helpless and passive victim
Watchingtelevision is a relatively passive activity.
Synonyms and related words
Showing no emotions and unaffected by emotions
blank
restrained
impassive
2
linguisticsin passive verbs or clauses, the subject is the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. For example in the sentence “The order was delivered the next day,” the verb group “was delivered” is passive, and the clause is in the passive voice.