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passive
adjective
noun
lacking in energy or will
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How it sounds
Pronunciation
ˈpæs.ɪv
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Meaning
Definitions
adjective
lacking in energy or will
“{'source': 'George Meredith', 'text': 'Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself'}”
adjective
expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb
“academics seem to favor passive sentences”
adjective
peacefully resistant in response to injustice
“passive resistance”
noun
the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
“‘The ball was thrown by the boy’ uses the passive voice”
In context
Example Sentences
{'source': 'George Meredith', 'text': 'Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself'}
academics seem to favor passive sentences
passive resistance
‘The ball was thrown by the boy’ uses the passive voice
‘The ball was thrown’ is an abbreviated passive
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Opposite words