Meaning & use
devotion
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Meanings
noununcountable
Deep love, loyalty, or commitment shown toward a person, cause, or activity.
Grammar: Usually followed by to: devotion to her family.
Patterns
- devotion to someone
- devotion to something
Her devotion to her students was clear to everyone.
The nurse worked with great devotion through the night.
His devotion to the team never wavered.
noununcountablereligion
Strong religious feeling shown through prayer and worship.
Grammar: Singular for the feeling; plural devotions for prayers.
The monks lived a life of quiet devotion.
She spent the morning in private devotion.
nounusually pluralreligionformal
Prayers or other religious practices.
Grammar: Usually plural: evening devotions.
The family gathered for evening devotions.
Word forms
| plural | devotions |
|---|
Common combinations
- devotion to duty
- The soldier was praised for his devotion to duty.
- unwavering devotion
- Dogs show unwavering devotion.
- religious devotion
- Religious devotion shaped her days.
- selfless devotion
- The volunteers showed selfless devotion.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dedication
- Dedication stresses hard work toward a goal, while devotion adds emotional attachment.
- loyalty
- Loyalty is about faithful support, not necessarily deep affection.
- commitment
- Commitment is a neutral promise to a course, whereas devotion is warmer and more intense.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Her ___ to her patients led her to work long hours without complaint.
Choose one answer.
Devotion to means deep commitment toward someone. Detachment is the opposite, and distraction and delay do not suit willing long hours.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “devotion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.