productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

prō-

1

: having the quality or power of producing especially in abundance

productive fishing waters

2

: effective in bringing about

… investigating committees have been productive of much good …

—R. K. Carr

3

a

: yielding results, benefits, or profits

b

: yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities

4

: continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions

un- is a productive prefix

5

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough

productively adverb

productiveness noun

Synonyms of productive

• creative
• constructive

Examples of productive in a Sentence

I had a very productive day.

I am most productive in the morning.

Some staff members are more productive than others.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the couple wanted a productive garden that felt connected to the property's history while also serving their family's everyday life. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

Nearly 30 years before the prodigious young soccer player made his mark on this World Cup, the Freeman name flashed across a Seattle scoreboard after a productive day in another kind of football. —Rick Maese, Washington Post, 20 June 2026

This is a productive time for general manager Don Sweeney to listen to offers and gauge Zacha’s return value, given the paucity of centers and the uncertainty around his next contract. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 20 June 2026

Adults often think our leisure time needs to be productive. —Jen Zamzow, CNBC, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing productive

• hyper-productive

Rhymes for productive

• abductive
• conductive
• constructive
• deductive
• destructive
• inductive
• instructive
• obstructive
• reductive
• seductive
• counterproductive
• photoconductive

Kids Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

1

: having the power to produce plentifully

productive soil

productive fishing waters

2

: producing something

efforts productive of much good

3

: giving results

a productive meeting

productively adverb

productiveness noun

Medical Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv, prō- 

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough