# passionate

/ˈpæʃənət/ (US) · /pˈæʃənət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/passionate
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. enthusiastic

adjective · CEFR B2

having or showing very strong feelings of enthusiasm or belief.

For teachers: characterised by intense emotion or strong belief in a particular cause, hobby, or principle.

- She is a passionate gardener who spends every weekend working in her backyard.
- The candidate delivered a passionate speech about environmental protection, hoping to inspire the younger generation of voters.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'about'.

### 2. romantic/sexual

adjective · CEFR B2

showing strong feelings of love or sexual attraction.

For teachers: expressing or relating to strong sexual desire or romantic love.

- The movie ends with a passionate kiss on the balcony.
- Their passionate relationship was often volatile, marked by intense arguments followed by equally intense reconciliations.

## Examples

- She is a passionate teacher who loves helping her students.
- The activist gave a passionate speech about the urgent need for environmental protection.
- While his colleagues remained indifferent to the proposal, he offered a passionate defense of the project, citing its potential for long-term social impact.

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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.