Meaning & use
passively accept
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
to allow something to happen or agree to it without arguing, resisting, or trying to change it
Grammar: Used with an object after accept: passively accept the decision. The adverb passively comes before the verb.
Patterns
- passively accept something
- passively accept that + clause
- passively accept what someone says
The staff passively accepted the new schedule even though many of them disliked it.
She did not fight the criticism; she simply passively accepted it and moved on.
Voters should not passively accept every promise a politician makes.
phrasefixed phrase
to take in or receive something without responding or reacting to it
Grammar: Often used about information, treatment, or conditions that someone receives without protest or reply.
Patterns
- passively accept information
- passively accept treatment
- passively accept a situation
Learners who passively accept information without questioning it often forget it quickly.
He passively accepted the insult and said nothing in return.
The villagers passively accepted the rising prices because they felt powerless to object.
Common combinations
- passively accept a decision
- The team passively accepted the decision to cancel the project.
- passively accept change
- Some people passively accept change instead of planning for it.
- passively accept criticism
- He passively accepted the criticism without defending himself.
- passively accept the situation
- They passively accepted the situation for years before finally complaining.
- passively accept an offer
- Do not passively accept the first offer; try to negotiate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tolerate
- Tolerate suggests putting up with something unpleasant, often with some inner dislike, while passively accept stresses the absence of any response or resistance.
- submit to
- Submit to is stronger and more formal, suggesting giving in to power or authority, whereas passively accept can describe a quieter, almost unthinking agreement.
- go along with
- Go along with is informal and often means agreeing to keep peace or avoid trouble, while passively accept can apply to ideas and information too.
Opposites
Word family
- passive adjective
- Accepting what happens without active response or resistance.
- passivity noun
- The state of being passive or not reacting.
- accept verb
- To agree to take or allow something.
- acceptance noun
- The act of agreeing to or receiving something.
Commonly confused: passively accept or passive? passively accept or actively accept?
passively accept vs passive
Passive is an adjective or noun, while passively is the adverb used before a verb like accept. Say 'they passively accept it', not 'they passive accept it'.
passively accept vs actively accept
These are opposites: actively accept means you welcome or support something with effort, while passively accept means you let it happen without any action.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The adverb passively normally comes before the verb accept, so 'passively accepted the decision' is correct. Option 2 puts it after the verb, option 3 uses the adjective passive, and option 4 also uses the adjective in the wrong place.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “passively accept”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.