passively
ˈpæsɪvli
Definition Synonyms

Definition of passively - Reverso English Dictionary

Adverb

1.
inactivewithout active participation or conscious effort
  • She listened passively to the lecture.
inactively
2.
linguisticsTECH.in the passive voice in grammarTECH.
  • The sentence was passively constructed.
indirectly submissively
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Origin of passively

Latin, passivus (suffering) + ly (suffix)

Terms with passively included in their meaning

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observe passively
watch without participating
passive accompaniment
accompany others passively without influencing events
attend passively
attend a meeting or class without participating
passively
in a way that is passive and without protest
behavior
remain passively in place without helping when action is expected
float
move passively with the current
movement
move passively with the current
accept passively
accept something without resistance or protest

Examples of passively in a sentence

  • The cat lay passively in the sun.
  • The paragraph was passively written to emphasize the object.
  • Instructions were passively given to avoid direct blame.

View all translations of passively

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:passivement, ...
  2. German:passiv, im Passiv, ...
  3. Italian:passivamente, in forma passiva, ...
  4. Spanish:pasivamente, en voz pasiva, ...
  5. Portuguese:passivamente, ...
  6. Chinese:被动地, 以被动语态, ...
  7. Japanese:無関心に, 受動態で, ...
  8. Arabic:بِسُلُوبٍ سلبي, بصيغة المبني للمجهول, ...
  9. Hebrew:בְּאוֹפֶן פָּסִיבִי, בְּאוֹפֶן סָבִיל, ...
  10. Russian:пассивно, в пассивной форме, ...
  11. Ukrainian:пасивно, ...
  12. Hindi:निष्क्रिय रूप से, निष्क्रिय वाच्य में, ...

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