reactive

adjective

re·​ac·​tive rē-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce reactive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or marked by reaction or reactance
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset
reactive depression
reactively adverb
reactiveness noun

Examples of reactive in a Sentence

The government's response to the problem was reactive rather than proactive.
Recent Examples on the Web Such an approach contrasts with traditional reactive maintenance strategies, which often lead to significant operational disruptions and financial losses. Oleg Fonarov, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 What Russell means is their objective is to provide schools, workplaces and religious groups proactive training rather than solely reactive advice. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Another problem is that the government’s attitude toward lightning is reactive rather than proactive, says Manoranjan Mishra, a lightning researcher and professor at Fakir Mohan University in Odisha state. Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2024 Last year, according to reports, 23andMe blamed its users for a massive data breach that impacted 6.9 million customers—a reactive approach to security issues that likely should have been addressed earlier on in the product development lifecycle. Mike Kijewski, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Are there any universal principles that help build a solid foundation of trust, leaving a brand less reactive to, say, the whims of Gen Z? Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 Weathers’ most powerful reactive closeup in the series comes near the end of the fight in Rocky IV, when his wife cries out from the stands, realizing that her husband is overmatched, and Apollo stares back at her helplessly, a prisoner of his neediness and machismo. Vulture, 4 Feb. 2024 My eyebrows move independently, my face is very reactive. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 Shaped from stoneware, this desktop organizing set is coated in a subtle reactive glaze and kiln-fired to perfection. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reactive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reactive was in 1717

Dictionary Entries Near reactive

Cite this Entry

“Reactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reactive

adjective
re·​ac·​tive rē-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce reactive (audio)
1
: of or relating to reaction
2
: reacting or tending to react
reactively adverb
reactiveness noun
reactivity noun

Medical Definition

reactive

adjective
re·​ac·​tive rē-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce reactive (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or marked by reaction
reactive symptoms
a reactive process
b
: capable of reacting chemically
highly reactive materials
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
the skin of the geriatric is less reactive than that of younger personsLouis Tuft
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset especially from factors outside the organism
reactive depression

More from Merriam-Webster on reactive

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