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   pas·sive

   /ˈpasiv/

   adjective

   • 1. accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance: "the women were portrayed as passive victims" Similar submissiveacquiescentunresistingyieldingunassertivenonresistantcompliantcomplaisantpliantresignedobedientdociletractablemalleablepliablemeeksubdueddeferentialforbearinglong-sufferingpatientlamblikenonviolentsupinenonaggressivearchaic:resistlessOpposite activeassertive
   • 2. denoting or relating to a voice of verbs in which the subject undergoes the action of the verb (e.g., they were killed as opposed to he killed them).
   • 3. (of a circuit or device) containing no source of electromotive force: "a passive optical network is to be installed in 2000 homes"
   • ▪ (of radar or a satellite) receiving or reflecting radiation from a transmitter or target rather than generating its own signal: "passive sensors detect the emissions from enemy radar"
   • ▪ relating to or denoting heating systems that make use of incident sunlight as an energy source: "bananas can be grown at the highest altitude using passive solar heating alone"
   • 4. (of a metal) made unreactive by a thin inert surface layer of oxide.

   noun

   • 1. a passive form of a verb.
   • ▪ the passive voice.

   Word Origin late Middle English(in passive (sense 2 of the adjective), also in the sense ‘(exposed to) suffering, acted on by an external agency’): from Latin passivus, from pass- ‘suffered’, from the verb pati.

   Derivatives

   • 1. passiveness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › passivePassive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › passive

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   The meaning of PASSIVE is acted upon by an external agency. How to use passive in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Passive.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › passivePASSIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › passive

   • Cached

   receiving, enduring, or submitting without resistance: a passive hypnotic subject. Synonyms: docile, submissive. Antonyms: recalcitrant, resistant. Grammar. noting a voice in the inflection of the verb in some languages which is used to indicate that the subject undergoes the action of the verb.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPASSIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   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.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPASSIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   not acting to influence or change a situation; allowing other people to be in control: He's very passive in the relationship. Traditionally in many professions women have been confined to more passive roles. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. passive adjective (INCOME) finance & economics specialized.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › passivePassive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › passive

   Passive is the opposite of active. In English class, you might be advised to avoid the passive voice. In chemistry, a passive substance doesn't react. Passive resistance is a way to protest peacefully. When you're passive, you don't participate much and you're not very emotional.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › passivePassive - definition of passive by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › passive

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   adj. 1. Receiving or subjected to an action without responding or initiating an action in return: the mind viewed as a passive receptacle for sensory experience. 2. Accepting or submitting without objection or resistance; submissive: a passive acceptance of one's fate. 3.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryPASSIVE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   PASSIVE meaning: 1. letting things happen to you and not taking action: 2. A passive verb or sentence is one in…. Learn more.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishpassive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   adjective. /ˈpæsɪv/ accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them. 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. Extra Examples. Oxford Collocations Dictionary. Definitions on the go.

10. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › passivepassive | meaning of passive in Longman Dictionary of...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › passive

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    passive meaning, definition, what is passive: someone who is passive tends to accept t...: Learn more.

11. www.yourdictionary.com › passivePassive Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › passive

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    Passive definition: Receiving or subjected to an action without responding or initiating an action in return.