devotion

noun

de·vo·tion | \ di-ˈvō-shən

, dē-\

Definition of devotion

1a : religious fervor : piety

b : an act of prayer or private worship —usually used in plural during his morning devotions

c : a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate (see corporate sense 2) worship of a congregation

2a : the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity : the act of devoting the devotion of a great deal of time and energy

b : the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal her devotion to the cause filial devotion

3 obsolete : the object of one's devotion

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Devotion Has Latin Roots More Example Sentences Learn More about devotion

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Choose the Right Synonym for devotion

fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty. fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. marital fidelity allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country. pledging allegiance fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. fealty to the truth loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. valued the loyalty of his friends devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. a painter's devotion to her art piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental. filial piety

Devotion Has Latin Roots

When we take a vow, we pledge our devotion—whether to remain true to a partner, to uphold the law, or to honor the word of God. It should be no surprise then that devotion and its related verb devote come from the act of taking a vow. Both words originate from Latin devotus, which is the past participle of devovēre, a union of the prefix de- ("from") and the verb vovēre ("to vow"). Devote was once used as an adjective that could mean either "devout" or "devoted." While devout often connotes faithfulness of a religious nature, the adjective devoted conveys the sense of one's commitment to another through love and loyalty ("a devoted husband and father"; "the singer's devoted fans").

Examples of devotion in a Sentence

She has cared for the poor with selfless devotion. The devotion they felt for each other was obvious. The project will require the devotion of a great deal of time and money. They spend an hour each morning at their devotions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Boylston chose a business ledger — indicative, maybe, of the Brahmin’s true form of devotion. — Murray Whyte, BostonGlobe.com, "On the walls at Harvard museums, calling out art’s racist, sexist history," 31 Aug. 2019 The unconditional love and devotion a dog gives is to be emulated and cherished. — J.d. Crowe | [email protected], al.com, "Tribute to K9 Jake, the drug sniffing dog who died in the line of duty," 23 July 2019 Not just Muslims but Hindus, Sikhs and Christians flock to his dargah, or shrine, in New Delhi, where qawwali songs of devotion are performed. — The Economist, "India’s magnificent stepwells are relics of a nuanced history," 13 July 2019 Her love songs are often about passions held in secret, in the echo chamber of the narrator’s heart, and the over-all effect is often surreal: the beloved is rendered solipsistically, and the pledges of devotion are unsettling. — Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, "On the Road with Mitski," 1 July 2019 With his early and eager declarations of devotion, Luke Parker started off Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette as a nice guy. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "Luke Parker Is The New Chad Johnson — But Even Worse," 20 June 2019 These peculiar acts of devotion long ago grew tiresome for the current residents, a white couple who pelt Jimmie and Mont with groceries. — Jake Coyle, Detroit Free Press, "‘Last Black Man in San Francisco’ is a soulful lament," 20 June 2019 More than a caregiver, but as her best friend and constant companion, the family thanks Soraida Lopez for her devotion and patience in bringing joy and laughter to Jean's life every day. — courant.com, "Jean C. Fresher," 22 July 2019 Meenu's passion for the law was only surpassed by her fierce devotion to, and love for, her family. — sun-sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 7/10," 10 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'devotion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for devotion

devotion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of devotion

: a feeling of strong love or loyalty : the quality of being devoted

: the use of time, money, energy, etc., for a particular purpose

: prayer, worship, or other religious activities that are done in private rather than in a religious service

See the full definition for devotion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

devotion

noun

de·vo·tion | \ di-ˈvō-shən

Kids Definition of devotion

1 : deep love or loyalty

2 : an act of giving (as effort or time) to something His devotion of many hours of work was rewarded.

3 : a religious exercise or practice (as prayers) especially that is private

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devotion

Definition of devotion

Synonyms & Antonyms for devotion

Choose the Right Synonym for devotion

Devotion Has Latin Roots

Examples of devotion in a Sentence

First Known Use of devotion

History and Etymology for devotion

English Language Learners Definition of devotion

Kids Definition of devotion

devotion

Definition of devotion

Synonyms & Antonyms for devotion

Choose the Right Synonym for devotion

Devotion Has Latin Roots

Examples of devotion in a Sentence

First Known Use of devotion

History and Etymology for devotion

English Language Learners Definition of devotion

Kids Definition of devotion

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