emo·tion | \ i-ˈmō-shən
Definition of emotion
1a : a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body
b : a state of feeling
c : the affective aspect of consciousness : feeling
Choose the Right Synonym for emotion
feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it. the feelings that once moved me are gone emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses. the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings. a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea. her feminist sentiments are well known passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion. revenge became his ruling passion
Examples of emotion in a Sentence
a display of raw emotion The defendant showed no emotion when the verdict was read. She was overcome with emotion at the news of her friend's death.
Recent Examples on the Web Faces show up in wobbly hand-cam candor on the wall, revealing depths of painful emotion, accompanied by rafts of backstory. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2022 He is known for a style called abstract expressionism, which is characterized by sweeping brush strokes that evoke emotion. — Anne Ryman, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2022 As the latest convoy cleared Russian territory Thursday and coursed toward Zaporizhzhia city, the faces peering out were suspended in raw emotion. — Louisa Loveluck And Serhii Korolchuk, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Sep. 2022 The showdown between Baltimore City’s top teams featured high intensity and emotion, not only for the high stakes and competitiveness on the field but also the tragedies that preceded the game. — Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2022 As the latest convoy cleared Russian territory Thursday and coursed toward Zaporizhzhia city, the faces peering out were suspended in raw emotion. — Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2022 Young writers sometimes catalog every thought and emotion of a character without knowing their weight or their gestures. — Yiyun Li, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022 The lack of emotion on display in those shots of the dugout has been a constant reminder of the joylessness of playing on a .500 team. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2022 Brown's performances with orchestras in the U.S. and Europe have received accolades for their maturity and emotion. — The Indianapolis Star, 25 Sep. 2022 See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emotion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of emotion
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
History and Etymology for emotion
Middle French, from emouvoir to stir up, from Old French esmovoir, from Latin emovēre to remove, displace, from e- + movēre to move
Learn More About emotion
Statistics for emotion
Cite this Entry
“Emotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emotion. Accessed 10 Oct. 2022.
More Definitions for emotion
emo·tion | \ i-ˈmō-shən \
Kids Definition of emotion
: strong feeling (as anger, love, joy, or fear) often accompanied by a physical reaction She flushed with emotion.
emo·tion | \ i-ˈmō-shən \
Medical Definition of emotion
1 : the affective aspect of consciousness
2 : a state of feeling
3 : a conscious mental reaction (as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body — compare affect
Other Words from emotion
emotional \ -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl \ adjective
emotionality \ -ˌmō-shə-ˈnal-ət-ē \ noun, plural emotionalities
emotionally \ -ˈmō-shnə-lē, -shən-ᵊl-ē \ adverb