devotion
C1Formal to neutral; commonly used in religious, literary, and earnest personal/emotional contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Deep, passionate love, loyalty, or commitment, often involving selfless dedication.
The act of giving one's time, focus, or resources to a particular purpose, person, or deity; a strong religious fervor or spiritual commitment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implicitly involves a significant emotional or spiritual investment, often implying prioritization of the object of devotion over other concerns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of reverence, loyalty, and self-sacrifice in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in American English corpora, likely due to more frequent public discourse on religion and personal commitment.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
devotion to [person/deity/cause]with devotionout of devotiondevotion of [time/resources]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Labour of devotion (less common variant of 'labour of love')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hyperbolic praise ('her devotion to the project was remarkable').
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, literature, and psychology to discuss cultural or personal commitment.
Everyday
Common in discussions of relationships, parenting, hobbies, or personal faith.
Technical
Not applicable in a technical sense.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She devoted herself to charity work.
- He devotes considerable time to his garden.
American English
- She devoted her life to medical research.
- The team devoted their energy to winning.
adverb
British English
- She listened devotedly to his every word.
- He worked devotedly on the manuscript.
American English
- They followed the instructions devotedly.
- He cared for the animals devotedly.
adjective
British English
- He was a devoted father.
- She is a devoted follower of the team.
American English
- He is a devoted husband.
- They are devoted fans of the series.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her devotion to her family is very strong.
- The dog shows great devotion to its owner.
- His devotion to his studies helped him pass the exam.
- She prays every day as an act of religious devotion.
- The artist's lifelong devotion to her craft is evident in the exquisite details.
- His unwavering devotion to the cause inspired many followers.
- The memoir explores the complex interplay between marital devotion and personal ambition.
- The sect demanded total devotion from its members, severing all outside ties.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DEVOTED fan at a concert, showing intense LOVE and commitment.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVOTION IS A BOND (ties that bind), DEVOTION IS FUEL (that drives action), DEVOTION IS A GIFT (an offering of self).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'преданность' when it means 'betrayal' (which is 'предательство'). 'Преданность' is correct for loyalty. Also, 'devotion' is a state/feeling, not the act of devoting, which is better translated as 'посвящение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'devotion' for a casual liking ('I have a devotion for pizza' - INCORRECT). Confusing with 'devotional' (adj.) as a noun.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the core meaning of 'devotion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it is strong in religious use, it applies equally to deep commitment to a person, cause, or activity (e.g., devotion to a spouse, to science, to a hobby).
'Dedication' often focuses on the committed application to a task or goal. 'Devotion' has a stronger emotional or loving component, implying deeper personal attachment.
The quality itself is positive, but the object of devotion can be negative or dangerous (e.g., devotion to a destructive cult or ideology). The context provides the valence.
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'she showed great devotion'). It can be countable in the plural when referring to specific acts or practices, especially religious ones (e.g., 'daily devotions').
Collections
Part of a collection
Relationships
B1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for interpersonal and social connections.