zeal
C1Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
great enthusiasm or eagerness in pursuit of a cause, objective, or goal.
Fervent, often intense and tireless, devotion to a person, cause, or ideal, sometimes bordering on fanaticism.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically associated with religious fervour, now used more broadly for any passionate pursuit. Can carry a slightly positive connotation of admirable dedication, but context can shift it towards a negative connotation of excessive, single-minded fervour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage frequency and register are consistent.
Connotations
Consistently carries a formal/literary tone in both varieties.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in general usage, more common in formal writing, journalism, and religious contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
zeal for [noun phrase] (e.g., zeal for justice)zeal in [verb-ing] (e.g., zeal in promoting)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Zeal without knowledge is fire without light. (proverb)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in formal contexts: 'The team pursued the new market with remarkable zeal.'
Academic
Used in history, political science, and religious studies to describe the motivation of groups or individuals.
Everyday
Uncommon; replaced by 'enthusiasm' or 'passion'.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No direct verb form. Use 'be zealous' or 'zealously pursue'.
American English
- No direct verb form. Use 'demonstrate zeal' or 'show zeal for'.
adverb
British English
- They worked zealously to complete the project on time.
- He campaigned zealously for the new legislation.
American English
- The volunteers zealously cleaned up the park.
- She zealously defended her client's reputation.
adjective
British English
- Her zealous campaigning led to the policy change.
- He was a zealous supporter of the local football club.
American English
- The zealous prosecutor pursued every lead.
- She was zealous in her efforts to conserve water.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a lot of zeal for her new hobby.
- He plays football with great zeal.
- The young teacher started her job with great zeal and energy.
- His zeal for learning languages is impressive.
- The politician's zeal for reform sometimes alienated more cautious colleagues.
- They tackled the environmental project with missionary zeal.
- His initial revolutionary zeal gradually gave way to pragmatic statecraft.
- The historical account criticised the conquistadors for their destructive religious zeal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SEAL (animal) with intense focus on catching fish. ZEAL is that intense focus on a goal.
Conceptual Metaphor
ZEAL IS A BURNING FIRE / ZEAL IS A DRIVING FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'рвение' in all contexts, as 'zeal' is more formal/literary. 'Энтузиазм' (enthusiasm) is often a closer functional equivalent in neutral speech.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He is very zeal' – incorrect; should be 'zealous').
- Confusing it with 'seal' in spelling.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest antonym for 'zeal'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It is positive when describing admirable dedication (e.g., zeal for charity). It can be negative when implying excessive, blind, or aggressive fervour (e.g., destructive zeal).
'Zeal' is more formal, intense, and often implies a sustained, principled, or ideological commitment. 'Enthusiasm' is more common, general, and can be for short-term or casual interests.
No, 'zeal' is only a noun. The related adjective is 'zealous' and the adverb is 'zealously'.
No, it is relatively uncommon in casual speech. It is more frequently found in formal writing, journalism, historical texts, and religious contexts.