passionate

passionate — adjective

1. full of powerful feeling or eager support, especially about an activity, cause,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

full of powerful feeling or eager support, especially about an activity, cause, or belief.

Example

Mina is passionate about street music and never misses the summer festival.

passionate about + noun

The doctor gave a passionate speech about village health care.

collocation: passionate speech

Common collocations
  • passionate about music
  • passionate about teaching
  • passionate speech
  • passionate defense
  • passionate debate
  • passionate supporter
Synonyms
  • enthusiastic

    often sounds brighter and lighter, with less depth of feeling.

  • devoted

    adds loyalty and long-term commitment, especially to people or causes.

  • ardent

    is more formal and often used in writing about belief or support.

  • emotional

    is broader and can simply mean full of feeling, not strongly supportive.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be passionate about something

be passionate about doing something

a passionate speech

a passionate defense

a passionate debate

Usage Note

Often followed by about + noun or about + -ing, and common before nouns like speech, debate, or supporter. Distinguish from adjective/2: this sense is about strong feeling or belief toward a subject, not romantic or sexual desire.

Common Mistakes

Lina is passionate in climate change.
Lina is passionate about climate change.
use 'about' after 'passionate' when naming an interest, cause, or topic.
I am very passionate, so I like history.
I am passionate about history.
this word usually needs the subject of your strong interest.

2. showing strong romantic and sexual desire, or involving that kind of desire.

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

showing strong romantic and sexual desire, or involving that kind of desire.

Example

The film ends with a passionate kiss outside the train station.

collocation: passionate kiss

Lena and Marco shared a passionate embrace at the airport as both families watched.

collocation: passionate embrace

Common collocations
  • passionate kiss
  • passionate embrace
  • passionate affair
  • passionate lover
  • passionate note
Synonyms
  • ardent

    is more formal and often appears in literary or careful writing.

  • sensual

    focuses more on physical pleasure and the senses.

  • romantic

    can be softer and does not always imply sexual intensity.

Antonyms
  • cold

    suggests little warmth or desire.

  • restrained

    emphasizes control and lack of open intensity.

  • passionless

    directly means lacking strong romantic or emotional force.

Grammar Patterns

a passionate kiss

a passionate embrace

a passionate affair

look passionate

Usage Note

Most often appears before nouns like kiss, embrace, affair, or look, and it can sound romantic or strongly sexual depending on context. Distinguish from adjective/1: if you mean eager interest in music, politics, or work, use sense 1 instead.

Common Mistakes

Maya gave her grandmother a passionate hug.
Maya gave her grandmother a warm hug.
'passionate' often suggests romantic or sexual feeling, so it sounds wrong for ordinary family affection.
They have a passionate marriage because they trust each other.
They have a loving marriage because they trust each other.
this sense stresses strong romantic or sexual desire, not simply steady affection.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, passionate is stronger than enthusiastic because it suggests deep feeling, not just lively interest. Devoted adds loyalty and steady commitment, often to a person, team, or cause over time. Ardent is more formal and appears more often in careful writing about belief, love, or support. Emotional is broader: it can simply mean full of feeling, and it may suggest less control. Use passionate when the intensity itself matters and you want to show a powerful inner drive. For example, Mina is passionate about animal rescue, but the children were simply enthusiastic about the school trip. If someone keeps supporting the same cause for years, devoted may fit better.

enthusiastic ↗devoted ↗ardentemotional ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • feelings

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be passionate
  • become passionate
  • remain passionate

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Passionate came into English through French from Latin passio, a word that first meant suffering or enduring something. Over time, the idea widened from strong suffering to strong feeling in general. That is why passionate can describe intense support, anger, or romantic desire, not only love.