grand passion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Literary, formal
Quick answer
What does “grand passion” mean?
An intense, all-consuming, and usually romantic love.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An intense, all-consuming, and usually romantic love.
An intense and overpowering enthusiasm for or devotion to an activity, idea, or cause, though this usage is far less common than the romantic meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, but is more frequently encountered in British literary and journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more archaic and theatrical in American English; retains a stronger association with classic literature in British English.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “grand passion” in a Sentence
to have a grand passion for [someone/thing]a grand passion between [person A] and [person B]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grand passion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She seemed to grand-passion her way through life, leaving a trail of broken hearts.
- He grand-passioned after her for years, writing sonnets in her honour.
American English
- He grand-passioned over her from afar, never daring to speak.
adverb
British English
- He loved her grand-passionately, with a fervour that frightened her.
American English
- She threw herself grand-passionately into every new hobby.
adjective
British English
- Their grand-passion love affair was the talk of the town.
American English
- It was a grand-passion romance, full of dramatic declarations and jealous scenes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary, historical, or cultural studies to analyse characters or historical figures.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual speech; would sound deliberately dramatic or ironic.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grand passion”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grand passion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grand passion”
- Using it to describe a strong but normal romantic relationship (e.g., 'I have a grand passion for my boyfriend of three months').
- Confusing it with a 'grand gesture' (which is a single dramatic act).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare and belongs primarily to a literary or formal register. Using it in everyday conversation would sound dramatic or old-fashioned.
Yes, but this is an extended and less common usage. For example, 'His grand passion is restoring vintage cars.' The primary meaning remains overwhelmingly romantic.
A 'crush' is a brief, often youthful infatuation. A 'grand passion' implies a deeper, more consuming, and often more tragic or significant love, typically of longer duration and greater intensity.
It is ambivalent. It connotes great intensity and depth, which can be viewed positively as the peak of romantic experience. However, it often carries undertones of obsession, instability, and potential for heartbreak or tragedy.
An intense, all-consuming, and usually romantic love.
Grand passion is usually literary, formal in register.
Grand passion: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈpæʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈpæʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] the grand passion of [someone's] life”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'GRAND' piano: large, dramatic, and commanding. A 'grand passion' is a love just as large-scale and impossible to ignore.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS A FORCE OF NATURE (a storm, a fire, a flood).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'grand passion' be LEAST appropriate?