C1adjective2K

Passive

UK /["/ˈpæsɪv/"]/US /["/ˈpæsɪv/"]/

Definition

accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them

In simple words: Not active; receiving action rather than doing it.

Examples

  • He played a passive role in the relationship.
  • a passive observer of events
  • She wore a passive expression on her face as if she didn’t care what happened.
  • Watching TV is a completely passive activity.
  • We are passive recipients of information from the world around us.

Usage notes

Use 'passive' to describe someone or something that doesn't take action. It's commonly used in grammar, like passive voice. Avoid it in very casual contexts.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a person passively lying down while others work around them.

Collocations

  • be
  • seem
  • become
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • inactive
  • submissive
  • docile
  • yielding

Antonyms

  • active
  • engaged
  • dynamic

Common mistakes

  • Confusing with 'passively' (the adverb form).
  • Using 'passive' to describe active behavior.
  • Misunderstanding its use in grammatical discussions.