devout

adjective

de·​vout di-ˈvau̇t 

1

: committed or devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises

a devout Catholic

2

: expressing piety or religious fervor : expressing devotion

a devout attitude

3

a

: devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior : serious, earnest

a devout baseball fan

born a devout coward

—G. B. Shaw

b

: warmly sincere

a devout wish for peace

devoutly adverb

devoutness noun

Synonyms of devout

• loyal
• staunch
• steadfast
• faithful
• devoted
• true
• dedicated

Examples of devout in a Sentence

It is his devout wish to help people in need.

devout Red Sox fans never lost faith during the long World Series drought

Recent Examples on the Web

The Goryeo were devout Buddhists; so too are the Lee family, of the modern Won Buddhist sect. —Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a devout socialist and one of the most vocal opponents of the Pentagon’s Operation Epic Fury in Iran, brushed off the threat of being removed from the alliance. —Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026

The Pharisees were the most devout members of ancient Israeli society, and their real agenda was not to trouble Jesus, but to protest against and challenge Rome. —Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 24 Apr. 2026

Raúl Castro, described by relatives, friends and enemies alike as a devout family man, has a particular fondness for the grandson bearing his name. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin devotus, from Latin, past participle of devovēre — see devote

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for devout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

devout

adjective

de·​vout di-ˈvau̇t 

1

: devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises

2

: expressing devotion

a devout attitude

3

a

: devoted to an activity, belief, or type of behavior

a devout baseball fan

b

: earnest entry 2 sense 1, sincere

gave them devout thanks

devoutly adverb

devoutness noun