ENGLISH
REFERENCE

passively

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpæsɪvɫi// UK //pˈɑːsɪvli// pas·sive·ly

adv. doing something without taking action or trying to change a situation. You use this when you let things happen to you instead of being in control.

adv. in a manner that accepts or allows what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance. In a linguistic context, it describes a construction where the subject is the recipient of the action.


SIMPLE

He sat passively while the others did all the work.

CONTEXTUAL

The students listened passively to the lecture without asking any questions or taking notes.

COMPLEX

By accepting the terms so passively, the committee effectively signed away their right to negotiate any future amendments to the contract.

Antonyms
Origin

From passive + -ly.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.

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