proactive

adjective

pro·​ac·​tive (ˌ)prō-ˈak-tiv 

1

[pro- entry 2 + reactive] : acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes

take a proactive approach

Be proactive about asking for feedback from the people around you, and when it is given, do take it constructively.

—Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka

Proactive managers are planners; they anticipate crises rather than reel from them.

—Michael Tannenbaum et al.

2

[pro- entry 1] psychology : relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning

Because of proactive interference, you may have difficulty remembering a new area code (you keep dialing the old one by mistake).

—Jeffrey Nevid

Did you know?

People who tend to react to a problem only when it's gotten serious could be called reactive people. Until recently, reactive (in this sense) didn't really have an antonym. So proactive was coined to describe the kind of person who's always looking into the future in order to be prepared for anything. A good parent attempts to be proactive on behalf of his or her children, trying to imagine the problems they might be facing in a few months or years. A company's financial officers study the patterns of the company's earnings to make sure it won't risk running short of cash at any point in the next year or two. Proactive has only been around a few decades, and it can still sometimes sound like a fashionable buzzword.

Synonyms of proactive

• cautious
• careful

Examples of proactive in a Sentence

A survey was given out to customers so that the company could take proactive steps to improve their service.

The city is taking a proactive approach to fighting crime by hiring more police officers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Aging drivers and their families must be proactive to address declining abilities. —Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026

No single technology will end wildlife trafficking, but these digital tools can enable a shift from reactive enforcement toward proactive, coordinated action, helping authorities keep pace with adaptive criminal networks. —Eve Bohnett, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026

Through proactive strategies and vital community partnerships, gun violence prevention is working. —Cindy Camp, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026

This enables a shift from passive reporting to proactive financial decision-making tools. —William Jones, Ascend Agency, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for proactive

• attractive
• contractive
• extractive
• inactive
• reactive
• refractive
• subtractive
• active
• tractive
• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive

Kids Definition

proactive

adjective

pro·​ac·​tive prō-ˈak-tiv 

: acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes

proactively adverb

Medical Definition

proactive

adjective

pro·​ac·​tive (ˈ)prō-ˈak-tiv 

: relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning

proactive inhibition of memory