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

• 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

Making the most of such an arrangement requires an intentional approach focused on building strong, productive working relationships. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

And that’s exactly what happened after a late-June trade sent Jonnu Smith, the most productive tight end in Dolphins history, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Miami’s position group in flux. —Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2025

Consistently moving the ball in their first game without two studs who were as productive as Higgins and Noel last year just feels like a massive ask of the Cyclones, especially against a tough D that held ISU to 4.1 yards per play last year. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

Ford’s 3,300-acre Blue Oval City, for example, was built in viable productive river bottom land – and incentivized by a $900 million package from the state. —Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

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