Meaning & use
devotion to
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
deep love and loyalty that you feel toward a person, group, or activity, shown through your actions and attention.
Grammar: Followed by a noun or pronoun: devotion to her family. The preposition 'to' is fixed; do not use 'for' or 'of'.
Patterns
- devotion to someone
- devotion to something
- show devotion to someone
Her devotion to her students was clear in the extra hours she spent helping them.
He showed great devotion to his wife during her long illness.
The volunteers' devotion to the cause inspired others to join.
phrasefixed phrasereligion
strong religious feeling or the act of worshiping a god, often expressed through prayer or ritual.
Grammar: Often used with 'to' plus a god or religious figure: devotion to God.
Patterns
- devotion to God
- devotion to a saint
- religious devotion to something
Her devotion to God guided every decision she made.
The monk's devotion to Buddha was evident in his daily meditation.
Pilgrims traveled long distances to show their devotion to the shrine.
Common combinations
- deep devotion to
- He has a deep devotion to his country.
- show devotion to
- She shows devotion to her craft by practicing every day.
- devotion to duty
- The soldier's devotion to duty earned him a medal.
- undying devotion to
- His undying devotion to his late wife was touching.
- devotion to family
- In many cultures, devotion to family is highly valued.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dedication
- Dedication often suggests hard work and effort toward a goal, while devotion emphasizes emotional attachment and loyalty.
- commitment
- Commitment is a promise or obligation to do something; devotion is more about love and emotional connection.
- loyalty
- Loyalty is faithfulness to a person or group, but devotion adds a sense of deep affection and care.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: devotion to or devotion for?
devotion to vs devotion for
The correct preposition is 'to', not 'for'. Say 'devotion to her family', not 'devotion for her family'.
Practice
Choose the correct preposition: She has always shown great devotion ___ her children.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'devotion to someone'. 'For' is sometimes used with 'love' but not with 'devotion'. 'With' and 'of' do not fit the pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “devotion to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.