plural passions
1
often capitalized
a
: the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death
b
: an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
Bach's St. Matthew Passion
2
obsolete
: suffering
3
: the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
moldable and not moldable … and many other passions of matter—
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon4
a(1)
: emotion
his ruling passion is greed
(2)
passions plural
: the emotions as distinguished from reason
a study of the passions
b
: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction
with enough passion to make a great poet—W. B. Yeats
W. B. Yeats
c
: an outbreak of anger
a crime of passion
Synonyms
Examples of passion in a Sentence
If anyone had asked me what my passions were, I would have said building fires, climbing cliffs, going on long hikes in the woods …
—Paul Theroux, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2001
The gods themselves had passions and frailties—these are the stuff of the myths.
—James Salter, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 1997
The skin is dry and as chaste and beautiful as old paper. But I remember the passion inspired by those fingers, their gifted, sly, infinitely provocative caresses and gestures.
—Richard Selzer, Discover, February 1994
Polo was the Khan's passion. He cared for little else, and when his armies moved, he moved with them, because he couldn't stand to be without the game.
—Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
Everyone could see the passion in his approach to the work.
a controversy that has stirred passions in Congress
Her performance is full of passion and originality.
She spoke with passion about preserving the building.
The crime was committed in a fit of passion.
Music has always been his passion.
She developed a passion for opera.
a student with a passion for literature
Paul Theroux, Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2001
The gods themselves had passions and frailties—these are the stuff of the myths.
—James Salter, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 1997
The skin is dry and as chaste and beautiful as old paper. But I remember the passion inspired by those fingers, their gifted, sly, infinitely provocative caresses and gestures.
—Richard Selzer, Discover, February 1994
Polo was the Khan's passion. He cared for little else, and when his armies moved, he moved with them, because he couldn't stand to be without the game.
—Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
Everyone could see the passion in his approach to the work.
a controversy that has stirred passions in Congress
Her performance is full of passion and originality.
She spoke with passion about preserving the building.
The crime was committed in a fit of passion.
Music has always been his passion.
She developed a passion for opera.
a student with a passion for literature
Recent Examples on the Web
As does her passion for pasta, which echoes time spent at the late Del Posto in NYC.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Modeling the fall of Rome in an alternate version of New York City, ‘Megalopolis’ has been ‘The Godfather’ director’s passion project for over 40 years.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024
This passion for sound is abundantly clear in his latest ambitious project, the Horizon saga.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
The host nation's passion for football is palpable, and fans can anticipate a warm welcome and an atmosphere that showcases the country's rich cultural heritage.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passion 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Modeling the fall of Rome in an alternate version of New York City, ‘Megalopolis’ has been ‘The Godfather’ director’s passion project for over 40 years.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024
This passion for sound is abundantly clear in his latest ambitious project, the Horizon saga.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
The host nation's passion for football is palpable, and fans can anticipate a warm welcome and an atmosphere that showcases the country's rich cultural heritage.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passion
Articles Related to passion
Dictionary Entries Near passion
Cite this Entry
“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passion. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
passion
noun
pas·sion
ˈpa-shən 
: intense, driving, or overpowering feeling or emotion
especially
: any violent or intense emotion that prevents reflection see also heat of passion
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share