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

To make the ambush even more inexplicable for Tarrell is that his devout mom is in favor of this, too, despite being just as much a victim of La’Ron’s chaos as Tarrell was.

From Los Angeles Times

As a devout Muslim, Mr Majiya says he accepts God’s will as the giver and taker of life.

From BBC

I was in a lot of school plays, and I would do readings at my church when I was a young devout Greek Orthodox boy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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