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Passively - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Passively means acting without active participation or resistance. It describes behavior where someone accepts or allows things to happen without responding or initiating action, often in a quiet or submissive manner.

passively

/ˈpæsɪvli/ /ˈpæsɪvli/

Definition:

Acting without active participation or resistance; accepting or allowing without response.

Synonyms:

Inactively, submissively, unresistingly, compliantly

Part of Speech:

Adverb

Antonyms:

Actively, assertively, aggressively

Common Collocations:

Passively accept, passively resist, passively observe, passively listen

Derivatives:

Passive, passiveness, passivity

Usage Tips:

Use "passively" to describe actions done without effort or resistance, often in a submissive context.

Common Phrases:

Passively aggressive, sit passively by, take it passively

Etymology:

From Latin "passivus," meaning "capable of suffering or feeling," via Old French "passif."

Examples:

  • 1. She sat passively during the meeting.
  • 2. He listened passively to their complaints.
  • 3. The audience watched the play passively.
  • 4. She agreed passively to their demands.

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