# devotion

/dɪˈvoʊʃən/ (US) · /dɪvˈəʊʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/devotion
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. loyalty and love

noun · CEFR B2

great love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.

For teachers: profound dedication or attachment to a person, cause, or activity. Uncountable in this sense.

- His devotion to his family was clear to everyone who knew him.
- Her lifelong devotion to environmental activism earned her several prestigious international awards for conservation.

### 2. religious piety

noun · CEFR B2

strong religious feeling or the act of showing respect to a god.

For teachers: religious zeal or the state of being pious. Often uncountable when describing the internal state.

- The monk spent his entire life in quiet devotion and prayer.
- The pilgrims demonstrated their deep devotion by walking hundreds of miles to reach the sacred shrine.

### 3. religious prayers

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

prayers or religious services, often done privately or in a small group.

For teachers: specific acts of religious worship or private prayers. Frequently used in the plural.

- She started every morning with her private devotions in the garden.
- The family gathered in the small chapel for their evening devotions before retiring for the night.

## Examples

- Her devotion to her family is clear to everyone.
- The scientist's lifelong devotion to cancer research eventually led to a major breakthrough in treatment.
- While many admired his artistic talent, it was his unwavering devotion to the craft—practicing for hours in total isolation—that truly set him apart from his contemporaries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.