passion
/ˈpæʃ.ən/ (bre, ipa) · [pˈæʃən] /ˈpæʃ.ən/ (ame, ipa) · [pˈæʃən] /ˈpa-shən/ (ame, mw)
passion — noun
- passionsingular
- passionsplural
1. an emotion that takes hold of you strongly, such as desire, deep love, or fierce
an emotion that takes hold of you strongly, such as desire, deep love, or fierce anger
The crowd's passion filled the stadium before the final song.
abstract noun as subject
A sudden passion made Leo kiss Hana at the station.
In a passion, Mrs. Wu tore the letter into pieces.
Maria's voice shook with passion as she defended her son.
On the dark stairs, passion made Eva pull Sam close for a kiss.
- calm
suggests control and the absence of strong emotional force
- indifference
means lack of feeling or concern
文法句型
feel passion
with passion
in a passion
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about a favourite activity or subject, and from sense 3, which is mainly plural and often suggests feelings that are hard to control.
常見錯誤
2. something you care about so strongly that you give it a lot of time and energy
something you care about so strongly that you give it a lot of time and energy
Since college, Amir has had a passion for street photography.
a passion for + noun
Teaching girls to code became Nora's passion after one summer camp.
For Kenji, old maps are more than work; they are a passion.
Daniel's passion for birds sends him to the marsh at dawn.
Baking grew from a weekend hobby into Lina's real passion.
- enthusiasm
a common word for eager interest, often a little less deep or lasting
- devotion
stresses loyal commitment, especially over time
- obsession
stronger and more negative, suggesting unhealthy focus
- indifference
shows little interest or emotional investment
- boredom
suggests the activity does not hold your attention
文法句型
a passion for + noun
a passion for + -ing
something is someone's passion
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'a passion for ...'. Unlike sense 1, it usually names a lasting interest rather than a sudden emotion.
常見錯誤
3. strong feelings, especially anger or sexual desire, that can be difficult to con
strong feelings, especially anger or sexual desire, that can be difficult to control
The speech stirred old passions in the village after the land fight.
stir passions
Jealousy and wounded pride drove his passions out of control.
The judge warned the crowd not to let passions rule.
Years of war had left both sides full of dangerous passions.
At the funeral, old passions flared when the brothers argued over money.
- self-control
emphasizes keeping your feelings under control
- restraint
focuses on deliberate control over strong feelings
文法句型
stir passions
arouse passions
control your passions
用法筆記
Usually appears as the plural passions, especially in literary, historical, or formal writing. Distinguish from sense 1, which can describe one strong feeling without suggesting loss of control.
常見錯誤
4. the part of the Christian story where Jesus suffers and dies
the part of the Christian story where Jesus suffers and dies
The church choir sang about the Passion on Good Friday.
the Passion
A wooden painting of the Passion hung above the stone altar.
Pastor Lin spoke about Christ's Passion before the Easter service.
The students watched a film showing the Passion of Jesus.
- Crucifixion
focuses more narrowly on Jesus's death on the cross
- suffering
a much broader word that does not by itself identify this Christian event
文法句型
the Passion
the Passion of Christ
Christ's Passion
用法筆記
Usually written as the Passion or Christ's Passion when referring to this Christian meaning. Common around church history, art, and Easter services.