ENGLISH
REFERENCE

passion

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpæʃən// UK //pˈæʃən// pas·sion Archaic General-service

n. a very strong feeling of love, hate, or anger. You also use it to describe a deep interest in an activity or subject that you love doing.

n. an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. Often refers to a strong sexual desire or a boundless enthusiasm for a specific interest or activity.


SIMPLE

She has a real passion for painting.

CONTEXTUAL

His passion for environmental justice led him to start a local recycling program that now serves the entire city.

COMPLEX

While many pursue careers for financial stability, those driven by genuine passion often find that their professional satisfaction outweighs the challenges of a modest income.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin Passiō, a proper-noun use of passiō (“suffering”) (a sense of passion which is now obsolete or archaic in English).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general quality of intense emotion; countable when referring to a specific hobby or object of desire.

Pitfall

He has passion about musicHe has a passion for musicWhen describing a strong interest, the noun 'passion' typically takes the preposition 'for' rather than 'about'.

© 2026 English Reference