active

[ ak-tiv ]

adjective

1. engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.; busy:

   an active life.

   Synonyms: operative, working, acting

   Antonyms: lazy

2. being in a state of existence, progress, or motion:

   active hostilities.

3. involving physical effort and action:

   active sports.

4. having the power of quick motion; nimble:

   active as a gazelle.

   Synonyms: sprightly, agile

5. characterized by action, motion, volume, use, participation, etc.:

   an active market in wheat; an active list of subscribers.

   Antonyms: sluggish

6. causing activity or change; capable of exerting influence ( passive ):

   active treason.

7. effective ( inert ):

   active ingredients.

8. Grammar. noting or pertaining to a voice of verbal inflection in which typically the subject of the sentence is represented as performing the action expressed by the verb ( passive ): Writes in He writes a letter every day is an active verb form.
9. requiring or giving rise to action; practical:

   an active course.

10. Geology. (of a volcano) having erupted within the last 10,000 years and likely to do so again or currently in a state of eruption. Compare dormant ( def ), extinct ( def ).
11. Accounting. profitable; busy:

    active accounts.

12. requiring personal effort or attention; not automatic:

    an active alarm system.

13. interest-bearing:

    active paper.

14. Medicine/Medical. acting quickly; producing immediate effects:

    active remedies.

15. Sociology. (of a crowd) engaging in purposeful activity, often of a militant nature. Compare expressive ( def 4 ).
16. Aerospace. able to transmit signals:

    an active communications satellite.

17. Electronics. (of a device or system) acting as a source of electrical energy, as a generator, or capable of amplifying or converting voltages or currents, as a transistor or diode.
18. (of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat by mechanical means.
19. Military. serving on active duty.

noun

1. Grammar.
   1. the active voice.
   2. a form or construction in the active voice.
2. an active person, member, subscriber, etc.:

   The circular was mailed only to the actives on our list.

3. Informal. something showing considerable action or activity:

   On the stock market there was heavy trading in the actives.

active

/ ˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something
2. busy or involved

   an active life

3. physically energetic
4. exerting influence; effective

   an active ingredient

5. grammar
   1. denoting a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb, as kicked in The boy kicked the football Compare passive
   2. another word for nonstative
6. being fully engaged in military service (esp in the phrase on active service )
7. (of a volcano) erupting periodically; not extinct Compare dormant extinct
8. astronomy (of the sun) exhibiting a large number of sunspots, solar flares, etc, and a marked variation in intensity and frequency of radio emission Compare quiet
9. commerce
   1. producing or being used to produce profit, esp in the form of interest

      active balances

   2. of or denoting stocks or shares that have been actively bought and sold as recorded in the Official List of the London Stock Exchange
10. electronics
    1. containing a source of power

       an active network

    2. capable of amplifying a signal or controlling some function

       an active component

       an active communication satellite

noun

1. grammar
   1. the active voice
   2. an active verb
2. a member of an organization who participates in its activities

Derived Forms

• ˈactiveness, noun
• ˈactively, adverb

Other Words From

• ac·tive·ly adverb
• ac·tive·ness noun
• non·ac·tive adjective noun
• pre·ac·tive adjective
• pre·ac·tive·ness noun
• qua·si-ac·tive adjective
• sem·i·ac·tive adjective
• sem·i·ac·tive·ness noun
• su·per·ac·tive adjective
• su·per·ac·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of active¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin āctīvus; replacing Middle English actif, from Middle French, from Latin; act, -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of active¹

C14: from Latin āctīvus. See act , -ive

Synonym Study

Active, energetic, strenuous, vigorous imply a liveliness and briskness in accomplishing something. Active suggests quickness and diligence as opposed to laziness or dilatory methods: an active and useful person. Energetic suggests forceful and intense, sometimes nervous, activity: conducting an energetic campaign. Strenuous implies arduous and zealous activity with a sense of urgency: a strenuous effort. Vigorous suggests strong, effective activity: using vigorous measures to accomplish an end.

Related Words

• aggressive
• alive
• bold
• busy
• determined
• diligent
• dynamic
• eager
• energetic
• engaged
• enthusiastic
• forceful
• intense
• keen
• lively
• quick
• ready
• resolute