devotion

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/dɪˈvoʊʃən/
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Deep love, loyalty, or dedication, and in religious use, piety shown through faith, worship, or regular prayer.
Practice using devotion in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The chapel was built as a place for private devotion and contemplation.
  • His devotion to environmental conservation led him to leave a lucrative corporate job.
  • His life was shaped by a quiet but unshakable devotion to God.
  • Her devotion to her children shaped every decision she made throughout her career.
  • The pilgrimage was an act of profound devotion to the saints.

Similar words

commitment
prayer
fidelity
faith
attachment
worship
allegiance
loyalty
dedication
faithfulness

Meanings

Deep loyalty or dedication

noun
everyday
neutral
Deep love, loyalty, or steady commitment to a person, cause, duty, or activity.

Usage

Use devotion with to for a commitment that is deep, lasting, and often affectionate, as in devotion to her family or devotion to the cause.

Examples

  • Her devotion to her children shaped every decision she made throughout her career.
  • He showed unwavering devotion to his craft, practicing for hours every day.
  • The biography traces her lifelong devotion to the cause of social justice.
  • They celebrated forty years of mutual devotion and trust.
  • His devotion to environmental conservation led him to leave a lucrative corporate job.

Common mistakes

The preposition to is dropped, or the word is used for casual likes that are too small for devotion.
IncorrectCorrect
Her devotion for her children was obvious. Her devotion to her children was obvious.
I have devotion to this sandwich. I really like this sandwich.
His devotion about music shaped his life. His devotion to music shaped his life.

Similar words

dedication
commitmentloyalty
faithfulness
fidelity
allegiance
attachment
adoration

Religious piety or prayer

noun
religion
neutral
Deep religious reverence expressed through faith, worship, prayer, or regular spiritual practice.

Usage

Use devotion for religious piety or worship, and use plural devotions for a set of prayers or private religious observances.

Examples

  • The monastery set aside hours each day for prayer and devotion.
  • She began each morning with personal devotions before the rest of the household woke.
  • The pilgrimage was an act of profound devotion to the saints.
  • His life was shaped by a quiet but unshakable devotion to God.
  • The chapel was built as a place for private devotion and contemplation.

Common mistakes

The plural devotions is used for a general feeling, though it usually means specific prayers or observances.
IncorrectCorrect
She had strong devotions to her beliefs. She had strong devotion to her beliefs.
He felt many devotions during the service. He felt deep devotion during the service.
She said her devotion before breakfast. She said her devotions before breakfast.

Similar words

piety
faith
reverence
worship
godliness
prayer
observance

Usage

Use devotion for commitment with emotional weight, usually with to. In religious use, singular devotion names piety, while plural devotions names prayers or observances.

Common mistakes

Devotion for is used where standard English expects devotion to, and plural devotions is confused with the singular feeling of devotion.

Etymology

From Latin devotio, from devovere, meaning to vow or consecrate, built from de- and vovere, to vow.

FAQ

What does devotion mean?

Devotion means deep loyalty, love, or dedication. In religion, it can also mean piety, worship, or regular prayer.

What is the difference between devotion and dedication?

Dedication stresses steady effort toward a task or goal. Devotion is warmer and more personal, with a stronger sense of love, loyalty, or self-giving.

What preposition is used with devotion?

Devotion is usually followed by to, as in devotion to family, devotion to duty, or devotion to God.

What does devotions mean in the plural?

Plural devotions usually means prayers or religious observances, especially private or regular ones.

Where does devotion come from?

Devotion comes through Latin devotio from devovere, meaning to vow or consecrate.

Comments & contributions

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Rapid Raccoon
Jul 10
my grandma had a book called Daily Devotions, this entry finally explains that lol
1
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Contribution
Violet Fox
Jul 4
With the verb, the pattern is devote time or energy to something. I devoted three hours to this paper sounds normal, but my devotion was three hours sounds very weird
1
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Brisk Narwhal
Jun 25
In Catholic contexts devotions can mean named practices, not just a mood. The rosary, a novena, Eucharistic adoration, devotion to a saint, all of those fit. So if someone says they do their devotions, they may mean a regular prayer routine, not that they are having many feelings of devotion at once.
3
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Loyal Leopard
Jun 16
It is not always a compliment. Blind devotion, fanatical devotion, slavish devotion, those all mean loyalty that has gone too far.
4
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Quiet Giraffe
Jun 18
yeah blind devotion is almost never good. Like someone stopped thinking for themself
1
Contribution
Velvet Goose
Jun 15
Devotion is heavier than dedication. You can have dedication to Excel, but devotion to Excel sounds like you built a tiny shrine for it.
6
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