interactive

American  

[in-ter-ak-tiv] / ˌɪn tərˈæk tɪv /

adjective

1. acting one upon or with the other.

2. of or relating to a two-way system of electronic communications, as by means of television or computer.

   interactive communications between families using two-way cable television.

3. (of a computer program or system) interacting with a human user, often in a conversational way, to obtain data or commands and to give immediate results or updated information.

   For many years airline reservations have been handled by interactive computer systems.

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noun

1. a feature, activity, or medium that requires the active participation of the user, especially in a digital or educational context.

   Each chapter ends with an interactive to test what the reader has learned.

interactive British  

/ ˌɪntərˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. allowing or relating to continuous two-way transfer of information between a user and the central point of a communication system, such as a computer or television

2. (of two or more persons, forces, etc) acting upon or in close relation with each other; interacting

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interactive Cultural  

1. If users receive real-time feedback from a computer so that they can modify the use of the machine, the hardware, software, or content, the system is said to be interactive.

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Other Word Forms

• interactively adverb
• interactivity noun
• noninteractive adjective

Explanation

Something that is interactive is something that you can communicate or interact with. The coolest thing about the Internet is how interactive it is. You're constantly putting information and getting other information back. Think of interactive as the adjectival version of the verb "to interact." The inter- part of the word means "between, together, among," while the act- part means "to do." Put them together, and you get "to do together or among." Turn that verb into an adjective, and you get interactive. Interactive games are the most fun, because the more you and the game interact, the more interesting it is.

Example Sentences

The question-and-answer sessions, dubbed "interactive dialogues," were introduced in 2016.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

“A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world,” Electronic Arts added.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Albertsons also bet on interactive virtual shopping during the era of the Facebook-to-Meta vibe shift, but it didn’t exactly juice profits.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

“We are excited to see what Josh D’Amaro brings to the table as the new CEO,” the analysts add, noting they are encouraged by D’Amaro’s enthusiasm around technology and interactive entertainment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Kids raised in interactive environments—with zappers, Nintendos, computers, sophisticated games—often struggle in environments where adults stand for hours droning at them.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Related Words

• bilateral
• collective
• reciprocal