active

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​tive ˈak-tiv How to pronounce active (audio)
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

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 See More
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 See More

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of active was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near active

Cite this Entry

“Active.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

active

adjective
ac·​tive ˈak-tiv How to pronounce active (audio)
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 How to pronounce active (audio)
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

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