active

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​tive ˈak-tiv 

1

: characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation

an active life

2

: producing or involving action or movement

3

a

of a verb form or voice : asserting that the person or thing represented by the grammatical subject performs the action represented by the verb

Hits in "he hits the ball" is active.

b

: expressing action as distinct from mere existence or state

active verbs such as "eat" and "sing"

4

: quick in physical movement : lively

5

: marked by vigorous activity : busy

The stock market was active.

6

: requiring vigorous action or exertion

active sports

7

: having practical operation or results : effective

an active law

8

a

: disposed to action : energetic

took an active interest

b

: engaged in an action or activity

an active club member

c

of a volcano : currently erupting or likely to erupt compare dormant sense 2a, extinct entry 1 sense 1b

d

: characterized by emission of large amounts of electromagnetic energy

an active galactic nucleus

9

: engaged in full-time service especially in the armed forces

active duty

10

: marked by present operation, transaction, movement, or use

an active account

11

a

: capable of acting or reacting : reacting readily

active nitrogen

active ingredients

b

: tending to progress or to cause degeneration

active tuberculosis

c

of an electronic circuit element : capable of controlling voltages or currents

d(1)

: requiring the expenditure of energy

active calcium ion uptake

(2)

: functioning by the emission of radiant energy or sound

radar is an active sensor

12

: still eligible to win the pot in poker

13

: moving down the line : visiting in the set

—used of couples in contra dances or square dances

14

medical : producing active immunity

Active immunization against Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is now usually achieved with combined pertussis-tetanus-diphtheria (DTP) vaccine.

—Scientific American Medicine

actively adverb

activeness noun

active

2 of 2

noun

plural actives

: an active person : one engaged in an action or activity

fraternity alumni and actives

We announced in December that Instagram now has over 600 million monthly actives and recently passed 400 million daily actives.

—Mark Zuckerberg

Synonyms

Adjective

• alive
• functional
• functioning
• going
• live
• living
• on
• operating
• operational
• operative
• running
• working

Examples of active in a Sentence

Adjective

We stay active during the cold winter months by skiing and ice skating.

We are active members of our church.

While many give money to the organization, only a few are active participants.

She was politically active as a volunteer for her state representative.

They take an active interest in their children's education.

He has taken a more active role in the production of this album.

the bank's active and inactive accounts

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The company is already active in the Middle East, backing the upcoming $140 million historic epic Desert Warrior starring Anthony Mackie, Ben Kingsley from Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023

The search continued into the night on Wednesday, with Coast Guard ships and helicopters active in the search area at about 7 p.m. local time. —Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023

Explosions, pollution and the overuse of loud active sonar all have taken a toll on the roughly 400,000 dolphins and porpoises who lived in the Black Sea prior to 2022. —David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

But Israeli airstrikes destroyed or damaged almost all the community’s homes in Gaza City while also hitting Gaza’s oldest active church, where some were sheltering. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023

Yellowstone National Park is known for its supervolcano and active geysers, but lidar technology is helping scientists better understand the threat of earthquakes for surrounding communities like Montana’s Paradise Valley. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023

While the scene remains active as the campus is cleared, the suspect is deceased. —Neal Riley, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2023

The only times Double Tap won’t work is when a Sleep Focus mode is active, or when the watch is in Low Power Mode. —David Nield, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023

The drugs are generally active against gram-positive bacteria, a group of bacteria that has peptidoglycan on the outside of the cell wall. —Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023

Noun

This eye cream features a formula with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and 38 plant actives — including red algae, squalane, cacao, and coffee — for highly effective benefits. —Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023

Don’t use actives while healing Active skin treatments like retinol, chemical peels, and other exfoliants are often recommended to help target common skin concerns. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023

Created in 1998, cold caps work by cooling the scalp and constricting blood flow to the root, with the hopes of limiting the amount of chemotherapy actives that reach the hair. —Tayler Adigun, Essence, 31 Oct. 2023

Skin care products with acne-fighting actives coupled with gentle supporting products like a fragrance-free moisturizer are your best bet here. —Annie Blay, Allure, 16 Oct. 2023

Other common examples of actives include retinol and other retinoids, as well as most acids (including glycolic, azaleic, and lactic). —Jessica Cruel, SELF, 3 Oct. 2023

The foundation includes skin modulator actives, like rosehip oil, wild rosemary, and plankton extract. —ELLE, 5 Sep. 2023

The Pro Remedy Oil is a great topper for those who use strong actives or have eczema or rosacea. —ELLE, 16 Feb. 2023

This way your skin can actually reap the benefits of chemical exfoliation and the use of actives without going overboard and causing potential damage or irritation. —Danielle Jackson, Women's Health, 10 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin āctīvus, from āctus (past participle of agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do") + -īvus -ive — more at agent

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing active

• active duty
• active-matrix
• active immunity
• active suspension
• active shooter
• active service
• active vocabulary
• active site
• active transport
• sexually active
• optically active
• co-active
• surface-active

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• active duty
• active-matrix
• active immunity
• active suspension
• active shooter
• active service
• active vocabulary
• active site
• active transport
• sexually active
• optically active
• co-active
• surface-active

See More

Kids Definition

active

adjective

ac·​tive ˈak-tiv 

1

: producing or involving action or movement

2

: representing the subject as performing the action expressed by the verb

"hits" in "she hits the ball" is an active verb

3

: having or requiring quick or energetic movements

an active child

active sports

4

a

: ready for action

takes an active interest

b

: engaged or participating in an action or activity

an active member

c

: erupting or likely to erupt

an active volcano

5

: engaged in or requiring full-time service especially in the armed forces

active duty

6

: marked by present action or use

an active account

a student's active vocabulary

7

a

: capable of acting or reacting

active ingredients

b

: tending to progress or increase

active tuberculosis

actively adverb

activeness noun

Medical Definition

active

adjective

ac·​tive ˈak-tiv 

1

: capable of acting or reacting especially in some specific way

an active enzyme

active nitrogen

2

: tending to progress or to cause degeneration

active tuberculosis

3

: exhibiting optical activity

4

: requiring the expenditure of energy

active calcium ion uptake

5

: producing active immunity

active immunization

actively adverb

Legal Definition

active

adjective

ac·​tive

1

: characterized or accomplished by action or effort

active concealment

compare passive

2

: engaged or participating in action or activity

paying child support but not otherwise an active parent