passively

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   in a passive manner

   I listened passively to my neighbor's flute.

2. 2
   adv

   In a passive manner; without conscious or self-directed action.

   Water flowed passively between tanks via the siphon.

3. 3
   adv

   In an acquiescent manner; resignedly or submissively.

   Paradoxically, the same faculty who complain about busyness are most likely to end up waiting passively. While they acquiescently wait to write, they busy themselves with other, often trivial, activities.

4. 4
   adv

   In the passive voice; having a passive construction.

   Statements phrased in an active voice, with a few outcome-oriented goals, improve school performance more than those stated passively with either multiple goals or goals focused on processes or behaviors.

From passive + -ly.

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