If you describe someone as passive, you mean that they do not take action but instead let things happen to them.
[disapproval]
His passive attitude made things easier for me.
Even passive acceptance of the regime was a kind of collaboration.
Synonyms: submissive, resigned, compliant, receptive More Synonyms of passive
passivelyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
He sat there passively, content to wait for his father to make the opening move.
passivity (pæsɪvɪti)uncountable noun
...the passivity of the public under the military occupation. [+ of]
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A passive activity involves watching, looking at, or listening to things rather than doing things.
They want less passive ways of filling their time.
...the passive enjoyment one gets from looking at a painting or sculpture.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Passive resistance involves showing opposition to the people in power in your country by not co-operating with them and protesting in non-violent ways.
When police arrived, the protesters used passive resistance to continue their protest.
4. singular noun
In grammar, the passive or the passive voice is formed using 'be' and the past participle of a verb. The subject of a passive clause does not perform the action expressed by the verb but is affected by it. For example, in 'She's been injured', the verb is in the passive. Compare active.
More Synonyms of passive
English Easy Learning GrammarActive and passiveActive sentences In the following example, the verb is active. The postman delivers hundreds of letters every day. The subject of an active sentence is ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarAuxiliary verbsAn auxiliary verb is a verb that is used together with a main verb to show time andcontinuity. Be and have are the primary auxiliaries. A primary auxiliary ... Read more
passive in British English
(ˈpæsɪv)
adjective
1.
not active or not participating perceptibly in an activity, organization, etc
2.
unresisting and receptive to external forces; submissive
3.
not working or operating
4.
affected or acted upon by an external object or force
5. grammar
denoting a voice of verbs in sentences in which the grammatical subject is not the logical subject but rather the recipient of the action described by the verb, as was broken in the sentence The glass was broken by a boy
Compare active (sense 5a)
6. chemistry
(of a substance, esp a metal) apparently chemically unreactive, usually as a result of the formation of a thin protective layer that prevents further reaction
7. electronics, telecommunications
a.
containing no source of power and therefore capable only of attenuating a signal
a passive network
b.
not capable of amplifying a signal or controlling a function
a passive communications satellite
8. finance
(of a bond, share, debt, etc) yielding no interest
noun
9. grammar
a.
the passive voice
b.
a passive verb
Derived forms
passively (ˈpassively)
adverb
passivity (pasˈsivity) or passiveness (ˈpassiveness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin passīvus susceptible of suffering, from patī to undergo
passive in American English
(ˈpæsɪv)
adjective
1.
influenced or acted upon without exerting influence or acting in return; inactive, but acted upon
2.
offering no opposition or resistance; submissive; yielding; patient
3.
taking no active part; inactive
4.
a. Chemistry
inert (sense 3)
b.
resistant to corrosion
5. Finance
of or relating to an investment that does not involve active participation in management, policy making, etc.
passive losses
6. Grammar
a.
denoting the voice or form of a verb whose subject is the recipient (object) of theaction of the verb: opposed to active
b.
in or of the passive voice
in “The tree was struck by lightning,” was struck is a passive construction
noun Grammar
7.
the passive voice
8.
a verb in this voice
Derived forms
passively (ˈpassively)
adverb
passiveness (ˈpassiveness)
noun
Word origin
ME passif < L passivus < passus: see passion
Examples of 'passive' in a sentence
passive
She is much more than a passive victim.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Instead, investors will seek out real value in active and passive funds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many faculties are reviewing how courses are taught, with less passive learning in lectures and more smaller groups to increase student interaction.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They also advised me to be a less passive user of new media and social networks.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You are showing your sons that passive acceptance is okay.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Benefits will not emerge from a passive attitude to the exchange.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
They show instead a kind of passive resistance.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
The rest of us are reduced to passive spectators rather than active political agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The only passive verb is in italics.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
The notion of addicts as passive victims of their addiction is a gross simplification.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We also mix active and passive investments in our portfolios.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Use the active voice or passive voice consistently.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
The search for authenticity is making people impatient with our passive acceptance.
David Boyle AUTHENTICITY: Brands, Fakes, Spin and the Lust for Real Life (2003)
The normal way of expressing discontent was engaging in a kind of indirect or passive resistance.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
It is why active government rather than a passive government is needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some know they were not the passive victims of random violence but active participants.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The style of dealing with patients changed from passive listening to active questioning.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Use active voice and avoid passive voice!
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
The consumer was the passive recipient of messages they could not avoid.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Three factors are now changing government's passive attitude toward recruitment.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
I wanted to remain passive and the doctors to be magicians.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You cannot remain passive in our worship, and that fact spills over into the life of the church.
Christianity Today (2000)
Sports teams have been known to paint opposing team's locker rooms pink to keep the players passive and less energetic.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She wasn't simply a passive love object, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Moreover, schools seem reluctant to provide and encourage daily exercise, whether passive or competitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The chorus sounds like Wuthering Heights but accept it for what it is and there is passive enjoyment to be had.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
passive
British English: passive /ˈpæsɪv/ ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as passive, you mean they do not take action but instead let things happen to them.
...his passive attitude.
American English: passive
Arabic: مُسْتَسْلِمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: passivo
Chinese: 被动的
Croatian: pasivan
Czech: pasivní
Danish: passiv
Dutch: passief
European Spanish: pasivo
Finnish: passiivinen
French: passif
German: passiv
Greek: παθητικός
Italian: passivo
Japanese: 受身の
Korean: 수동적인
Norwegian: passiv
Polish: bierny
European Portuguese: passivo
Romanian: pasiv
Russian: пассивный
Latin American Spanish: pasivo
Swedish: passiv
Thai: ไม่โต้แย้ง
Turkish: pasif
Ukrainian: пасивний
Vietnamese: bị động
All related terms of 'passive'
passive safety
the practice of taking measures to reduce the consequences of accidents , as opposed to attempting to avoid them altogether
passive smoking
Passive smoking involves breathing in the smoke from other people's cigarettes because you happen to be near them.
passive-aggressive
of or relating to a personality that harbours aggressive emotions while behaving in a calm or detached manner
passive euthanasia
a form of euthanasia in which medical treatment that will keep a dying patient alive for a time is withdrawn
passive immunity
immunity (to a disease) acquired by the injection of antibodies from an animal or person who has acquired active immunity
passive obedience
unquestioning obedience to authority
passive recipient
The recipient of something is the person who receives it.
passive resistance
resistance to a government, law, etc, made without violence , as by fasting , demonstrating peacefully, or refusing to cooperate
passive restraint
a device, such as an airbag, that protects people in a car if there is a crash
passive vocabulary
all the words, collectively, that a person can understand
passive disobedience
resistance to a government, law, etc, made without violence , as by fasting , demonstrating peacefully, or refusing to cooperate
passive balance of trade
a negative balance of trade
vocabulary
Your vocabulary is the total number of words you know in a particular language.
Chinese translation of 'passive'
passive
(ˈpæsɪv)
adj
[person, attitude]消极(極)的 (xiāojí de)
n(u)
the passive (Ling) 被动(動)语(語)态(態) (bèidòng yǔtài)
passive resistance消极(極)抵抗 (xiāojí dǐkàng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
submissive and receptive to outside forces
their passive acceptance of the new regime
Synonyms
submissive
Most doctors want their patients to be submissive.
resigned
He gave a resigned smile.
compliant
a docile and compliant workforce
receptive
lifeless
His novels are shallow and lifeless.
docile
nonviolent
quiescent
acquiescent
The other men were acquiescent but he had an independent streak.
unassertive
unresisting
Opposites
spirited
,
violent
,
lively
,
energetic
,
defiant
,
assertive
,
rebellious
,
feisty (informal)
,
bossy (informal)
,
domineering
,
zippy (informal)
2 (adjective)
Definition
not taking an active part
He took a passive role in the interview.
Synonyms
inactive
They certainly were not politically inactive.
inert
He covered the inert body with a blanket
uninvolved
non-participating
Opposites
involved
,
active
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acquiescent
The other men were acquiescent but he had an independent streak.