a burning passion

USAGE SUMMARY

"a burning passion" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a strong, intense enthusiasm or desire for something. Example: She has a burning passion for environmental conservation. Alternative expressions include "a deep passion" and "an intense passion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

As befits any genuine Mets fan, he hates the Yankees "with a burning passion".

The New York Times - Sports

Paul-Edward emerges from his early ordeal with a burning passion to own land.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Rivkin didn't particularly have a burning passion for legal matters, either.

The New York Times

But like most boys at school, I shared a burning passion for Aussie rules.

The Guardian - Sport

He had a great heart and a burning passion for social justice.

The New York Times

Basketball remains a burning passion, and Williams hopes to return to coaching sooner rather than later.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Speaking on the Legal Cheek podcast in January, the shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, one of Wrack's colleagues at Tooks Chambers, described herself as a "burning-passion, mad-eyed commitment politician", but also admitted that "I enjoy people hugging me on the street" in her Islington constituency.

The Guardian

But Wolitzer's professional trajectory has fed the themes of The Female Persuasion, which tells the story of college student Greer Kadetsky, a bookish introvert with a quiet, burning passion to do something important with her life.

Huffington Post

"Sexual intimacy is a slow burning passion that can include a variety of activities, such as caressing, kissing, massaging, oral pleasure or sexual positions while eye-gazing with one hand on each other's heart," explains Dr. Cadell, who also founded Loveology University, an online resource for sensual knowledge.

Huffington Post

Loving what you do will get you out of bed in the morning for work, but a true, burning passion will keep you there until late at night--not because of some crisis or important time-sensitive project, but because you get lost in the magic of what you're doing.

Huffington Post

The grueling selection process weeds out all but the select few candidates who have an intense, burning passion to become some of the greatest soldiers in the world.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with the preposition 'for' to specify the subject of the passion (e.g. 'a burning passion for justice')

Common error

While powerful, this phrase can become a cliche in business or technical contexts. If you are writing a CV or a formal research paper, consider if a more precise term like "focused expertise" or "specialized interest" might better convey your message without the poetic intensity.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "a burning passion" serves as the direct object of a verb or follows a preposition to characterize a subject's internal state. In the data provided by Ludwig AI, it frequently appears after the verb "have" or "share" to denote a shared or personal drive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Academic

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a burning passion" is a highly effective and grammatically correct way to describe an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm or motivation. According to Ludwig AI, it is Common in high-quality journalism and narrative writing, appearing 38 times in exact matches from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While it is versatile enough to describe both intense love and intense hatred, its most frequent use is in describing the driving force behind career success, social justice work or artistic creation. Writers should be mindful of its intensity and use it where a more standard term like "interest" fails to capture the sheer scale of the emotion being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a consuming passion

Suggests the interest is so strong it occupies most of one's time and energy

an intense desire

Focuses more on the yearning or wanting aspect rather than the interest itself

an ardent love

Often used for romantic or emotional affection for a subject or person

a fervent devotion

Implies a sense of loyalty and steadfastness alongside the passion

a deep-seated enthusiasm

Suggests a long-term, internally rooted excitement

a zealous commitment

Emphasizes the active effort and advocacy involved in the passion

a profound interest

Provides a more academic and formal tone suitable for professional settings

a smoldering ambition

Implies a hidden or slowly building drive toward a specific goal

an insatiable hunger

A stronger metaphor for a need or drive that is difficult to satisfy

a lifelong obsession

Emphasizes the duration and intensity, sometimes bordering on the unhealthy

FAQs

How do I use "a burning passion" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an intense hobby or goal, such as: "She has "a burning passion for" environmental advocacy."

What is the difference between "a burning passion" and "a burning desire"?

While similar, "a burning desire" usually refers to wanting to achieve or obtain something specific, whereas "a burning passion" typically refers to a deep love or enthusiasm for a field or activity.

Is it correct to say "hate with a burning passion"?

Yes, as shown in examples from Ludwig, the phrase is frequently used to emphasize intense dislike, often in a slightly hyperbolic or colloquial way, such as "hating the Yankees with "a burning passion"."

What can I use instead of "a burning passion" in a formal essay?

In formal writing, you might prefer terms like "a profound interest", "an enduring commitment" or "a significant dedication".