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Meaning of active in English
Pronunciation
/ˈæktɪv/
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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.
taking part in an activity
Examples
« an active member of the club »
« he was politically active »
« the participating organizations »
Synonyms
involved
3.
in operation
Examples
« keep hope alive »
« the tradition was still alive »
« an active tradition »
Synonyms
existent
existing
4.
being in physical motion
Examples
« active fish in the aquarium »
Synonyms
moving
5.
characterized by energetic bodily activity
Examples
« tennis is an active sport »
« a very physical dance performance »
Synonyms
energetic
Noun
active
Definitions
1.
chemical agent capable of activity
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
3.
a person devoted to the active life
Antonyms
contemplative
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
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
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
4.
exerting influence or producing an effect
Examples
« an active ingredient »
Synonyms
activated
Antonyms
inactive
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
6.
of the sun
Examples
« characterized by a high level activity in sunspots and flares and radio emissions »
Antonyms
quiet
7.
expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions"
Antonyms
passive
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
9.
(of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt
Examples
« active volcanos »
Synonyms
alive(p)
live(a)
eruptive
Antonyms
dormant
inactive
extinct
inactive
10.
producing activity or change
Synonyms
surface-active
Antonyms
counteractive
antagonistic
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