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:
In 1686, at least one now contested-account recounts the story of Sir John Knight, a devout anti-Catholic, busting into the church of St. Michael in Bristol, England, during services with a gun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
According to an interview her sister gave to the New Zealand Women's Weekly, Nathan was a devout Catholic who led a reclusive life.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Through it all, Vance seems to be hoping that the crowd that sees his “Christian charity” face isn’t the same one showing up to hoot at his lame “no homo” jokes about the devout Talarico.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
A devout Baptist, Evans, who lived and worked in Wilmington, N.C., began making art in the 1930s, after her grandmother’s death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
In December 1596, Archduke Ferdinand, a devout Catholic, became the ruler of Styria.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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
The stronger and devouter soul cannot conceive how the weaker had yielded.
From Expositions of Holy Scripture by Alexander Maclaren
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
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
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 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
The devoutest heart is conscious of shrinking dread when brought face to face with celestial brightness that has overflowed into our darkness.
From Expositions of Holy Scripture St. Luke by Alexander Maclaren
Neither could any other thing, according to the law of circumcision, give the devoutest person that breathed a being of membership with them.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 02 by John Bunyan
Ginger looked as horrified as the devoutest of the congregation of which Sally had just ceased to be a member.
From The Adventures of Sally by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
Never had I felt this scorching flame, I to whom love had appeared only in the form of devoutest worship.
From Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
