PASSIVE definition: not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling. See examples of passive used in a sentence.

passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

If you describe someone as passive, you mean that they do not take action but instead let things happen to them.

'Catrin told me' is an active sentence, and 'I was told by Catrin' is passive. In a passive sentence, the subject is the person or thing affected by the action of the verb.

Definition of passive adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them. He played a …

Used to describe a form of verb in which the grammatical subject is the object of the action, for example, the sentence “The government took steps.” in the passive would be Steps were …

Grammar (opposed to active) of, relating to, or being a voice, verb form, or construction that expresses an action that is done to rather than by the subject: In a passive sentence, the …

Dec 14, 2025 · (grammar) A form of a verb that is in the passive voice. (marketing) A customer who is satisfied with a product or service, but not keen enough to promote it by word of mouth.

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 …

receiving an action without acting in return, or being unresponsive to something that affects or might be expected to affect one directly. The demonstrators remained passive as they were …