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Meaning of active in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈæktɪv/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    active

    Definitions

    1. engaged in or ready for military or naval operations

    Examples

    • « on active duty »
    • « the platoon is combat-ready »
    • « review the fighting forces »

    Synonyms

    • operational
  2. 2. taking part in an activity

    Examples

    • « an active member of the club »
    • « he was politically active »
    • « the participating organizations »

    Synonyms

    • involved
  3. 3. in operation

    Examples

    • « keep hope alive »
    • « the tradition was still alive »
    • « an active tradition »

    Synonyms

    • existent
    • existing
  4. 4. being in physical motion

    Examples

    • « active fish in the aquarium »

    Synonyms

    • moving
  5. 5. characterized by energetic bodily activity

    Examples

    • « tennis is an active sport »
    • « a very physical dance performance »

    Synonyms

    • energetic
  6. Noun

    active

    Definitions

    1. chemical agent capable of activity
  7. 2. the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb

    Examples

    • « 'The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice »

    Antonyms

    • passive voice
    • passive
  8. 3. a person devoted to the active life

    Antonyms

    • contemplative
  9. Qualitative Adjective

    active

    Etymology

    Middle English (in the sense ‘preferring action to contemplation’): from Latin activus, from act-‘done’, from the verb agere

    Definitions

    1. tending to become more severe or wider in scope

    Examples

    • « active tuberculosis »

    Synonyms

    • progressive

    Antonyms

    • inactive
  10. 2. disposed to take action or effectuate change

    Examples

    • « a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations »
    • « an active antagonism »
    • « he was active in drawing attention to their grievances »

    Synonyms

    • activist
    • activistic
    • hands-on
    • proactive

    Antonyms

    • passive
    • inactive
  11. 3. characterized by energetic activity

    Examples

    • « an active toddler »
    • « active as a gazelle »
    • « an active man is a man of action »

    Synonyms

    • about(p)
    • astir(p)
    • acrobatic
    • athletic
    • gymnastic
    • agile
    • nimble
    • quick
    • spry
    • hot
    • hyperactive
    • overactive
    • lively
    • on the go(p)

    Antonyms

    • inactive
  12. 4. exerting influence or producing an effect

    Examples

    • « an active ingredient »

    Synonyms

    • activated

    Antonyms

    • inactive
  13. 5. full of activity or engaged in continuous activity

    Examples

    • « an active seaport »
    • « an active bond market »
    • « an active account »

    Synonyms

    • brisk
    • bustling
    • busy
    • going(a)
    • in full swing(p)
    • open

    Antonyms

    • inactive
  14. 6. of the sun

    Examples

    • « characterized by a high level activity in sunspots and flares and radio emissions »

    Antonyms

    • quiet
  15. 7. expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions"

    Antonyms

    • passive
  16. 8. expressing action rather than a state of being

    Examples

    • « used of verbs (e.g. 'to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. 'running' in 'running water') »

    Antonyms

    • stative
  17. 9. (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt

    Examples

    • « active volcanos »

    Synonyms

    • alive(p)
    • live(a)
    • eruptive

    Antonyms

    • dormant
    • inactive
    • extinct
    • inactive
  18. 10. producing activity or change

    Synonyms

    • surface-active

    Antonyms

    • counteractive
    • antagonistic
  19. 11. engaged in full-time work

    Examples

    • « active duty »
    • « though past retirement age he is still active in his profession »

    Synonyms

    • activated
    • on(p)
    • on duty(p)
    • on-duty(a)
    • practicing

    Antonyms

    • inactive

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