adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK, US:/ˈpæs.ɪv.li/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P AE1 S IH0 V L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
In an acquiescent manner; resignedly or submissively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
In the passive voice; having a passive construction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
in a passive manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he listened passively
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: actively
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English passive Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English passively From passive + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
20 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
պասսիվորեն
(passivoren)
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Catalan:
passivament
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Finnish:
tahattomasti
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Finnish:
passiivisesti
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
French:
passivement
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
German:
passiv
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Italian:
passivamente
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Norwegian:
passivt
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Polish:
biernie
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Polish:
pasywnie
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Portuguese:
passivamente
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Russian:
пасси́вно
(passívno)
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Slovak:
pasívne
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Spanish:
pasivamente
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Turkish:
pasif olarak
— in a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action
Finnish:
hiljaisesti
— in an acquiescent manner; resignedly
Finnish:
passiivisesti
— in an acquiescent manner; resignedly
Russian:
пасси́вно
(passívno)
— in an acquiescent manner; resignedly
Slovak:
nečinne
— in an acquiescent manner; resignedly
Slovak:
pasívne
— in an acquiescent manner; resignedly
