devout

[ dih-vout ]

adjective

, de·vout·er, de·vout·est.

1. devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious:

   a devout Catholic.

   Antonyms: irreverent

2. expressing devotion or piety:

   devout prayer.

3. earnest or sincere; hearty:

   He had a devout allegiance to the political regime.

   Synonyms: ardent, fervent, serious, intense

devout

/ dɪˈvaʊt /

adjective

1. deeply religious; reverent
2. sincere; earnest; heartfelt

   a devout confession

Derived Forms

• deˈvoutness, noun
• deˈvoutly, adverb

Other Words From

• de·voutly adverb
• de·voutness noun
• nonde·vout adjective
• nonde·voutly adverb
• nonde·voutness noun
• unde·vout adjective
• unde·voutly adverb
• unde·voutness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of devout¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French devo(u)t, from Late Latin dēvotus, Latin: “devoted”; devote

Word History and Origins

Origin of devout¹

C13: from Old French devot, from Late Latin dēvōtus, from Latin: faithful; see devote

Synonym Study

See religious.

Example Sentences

“I’m 65 years old, playing a character that, if you crunch the math, should be about 40,” he told The Times of taking on Tevye, the show’s devout dairyman.

From Los Angeles Times

He came off as sensitive on abortion, devout on the need to protect access to healthcare — stances that were, of course, wildly different from his previous statements on right-wing podcasts.

From Salon

Given that this country was founded by members of many different religious sects whose members were too devout and, arguably, too unhinged to fit comfortably in the Old World, Trump's right-wing radical Supreme Court justices apparently believe that our republic should go out that way too.

From Salon

But that is exactly what the 72-year-old devout Catholic and grandmother has become to some in this northern California county — which has been convulsed by conspiracy theories about voter fraud and other extremist ideologies over the last three years.

From Los Angeles Times

Schneider described how she'd been a lifelong Republican and devout evangelical Christian her entire adult life.

From Salon

Related Words

• adoring
• ardent
• faithful
• fervent
• passionate
• pious
• religious
• sincere
• zealous