proactive

[proh-ak-tiv]

adjective

1. serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or challenging one; anticipatory.

   The new guidelines will help industry employers develop proactive measures to keep their workplaces safe.

proactive

/ prəʊˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events

2. psychol of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process

Other Word Forms

• proactive noun
• proactivity noun
• proactiveness noun
• proactively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive¹

First recorded in 1930–35; pro- ¹ + active

Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive¹

C20: from _pro- ² + ( _re ) _active

Example Sentences

Beijing could take proactive steps to promote the yuan’s use globally, such as improved cross border payment systems or making investments in yuan-denominated assets easier.

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Salesforce has also been promoting the use of “AI agents” that are capable of proactively doing work without constant input from a human.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It added that councils had both a wide range of regulatory duties and "significant financial pressures" which limited their ability to carry out "proactive inspections".

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He said men, including himself, were often shy of coming forward to discuss health issues: "That's why a proactive targeted screening programme could make a difference in helping save lives."

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It sounds like you want someone who is both proactive and responsible.

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When To Use

What does proactive mean?

Proactive is the opposite of reactive. Actions that are proactive are initiated not in reaction to a situation but instead out of a desire to make a positive change, prepare for a situation, or prevent something from happening.Proactive is commonly used to describe people who take such actions. It’s also commonly used in the phrase proactive measures, meaning proactive actions, especially those done to prevent a negative situation.Example: Henry credits most of his success to being proactive instead of waiting for opportunities to come to him.