devout
Americanadjective
-
devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious.
a devout Catholic.
- Antonyms:
- irreverent
-
expressing devotion or piety.
devout prayer.
-
earnest or sincere; hearty.
He had a devout allegiance to the political regime.
adjective
-
deeply religious; reverent
-
sincere; earnest; heartfelt
a devout confession
Synonym Usage
See religious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of devout
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French devo(u)t, from Late Latin dēvotus, Latin: “devoted”; see devote
Explanation
To be devout is to be deeply devoted to one's religion or to another belief, cause, or way of life. If you're reading this, you're probably a devout believer in improving your vocabulary. Devout is often used to describe religious individuals, but this word also pops up in the context of sports fans — a fact that may shed some light on the role of sports in today's society. However, while it's usually acceptable for a devout individual to miss work for religious holidays, devout sports fans have a tougher time convincing their boss to let them off for the big game.
Vocabulary lists containing devout
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Known as the "Plain People" for the simple clothes they wear, the Amish are a devout Christian community that does not use many forms of technology, relying on horse and buggies instead of cars.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Even when the devout Christian decided to retire, he found a way to be of public service.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Before every game, no matter what team I was on at the time, the coach would always ask the most devout player to say a prayer.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
"The 1851 memoir, by contrast, was a spiritual redemption story, with Byfield tracing his progress from rebellious sinner to devout and repentant Christian."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
He was a devout Christian, comfortable with telling people that he had been saved.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
But I have no devouter superstition than that the souls of women who die in childbed and men who fall in battle go straight to Paradise!!!
From Juliana Horatia Ewing And Her Books by Horatia K. F. Eden
He finds them the same men, although with better and devouter hearts, as we are at this day.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 02, December, 1857 by Various
They are nests built with faithfulness and affection, and through them one seems to get a glimpse of devouter, sturdier times.
From Winter Sunshine by John Burroughs
Mrs. Orr, devouter votary than I, explains that Browning meant "that everything which disturbs the equal balance of human life gives a vital impulse to the soul."
From Browning's Heroines by Maxwell Armfield
The devouter portion of the people still pray, and on the whole, live sober, righteous and godly lives; but multitudes are discouraged, and take themselves away.
From Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again A Life Story by Joseph Barker
It would be still possible even for the devoutest Wagnerian disciple to hear such a concert, perhaps, without leaving the hall in indignation, perhaps even without a protest.
From From the Easy Chair — Volume 01 by George William Curtis
The devoutest person could have rendered no greater homage to the efficacy of an honest prayer than he did in this distrust of his wife.
From A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
The highest hope of the devoutest souls before Him had been, 'Thou wilt afterwards take me to glory.'
From Expositions of Holy Scripture Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and First Book of Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings chapters I to VII by Alexander Maclaren
If my essay could be as good as my subject it would be worthy of devoutest attention.
It is richer in its contents, it is better and mightier in its influences, than its devoutest friends are aware.
From Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again A Life Story by Joseph Barker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
