transitive

adjective

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tran·si·tive | \ ˈtran(t)-sə-tiv

, ˈtran-zə-; ˈtran(t)s-tiv \

Definition of transitive

1 : characterized by having or containing a direct object a transitive verb

2 : being or relating to a relation with the property that if the relation holds between a first element and a second and between the second element and a third, it holds between the first and third elements equality is a transitive relation

3 : of, relating to, or characterized by transition

Other Words from transitive What is the difference between a transitive verb and an intransitive verb? More Example Sentences Learn More About transitive

Other Words from transitive

transitively adverb

transitiveness noun

transitivity \ ˌtran(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē

, ˌtran-zə- \ noun

What is the difference between a transitive verb and an intransitive verb?

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object, which is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that follows the verb and completes the sentence's meaning by indicating the person or thing that receives the action of the verb. The direct object typically answers the question what? or whom?:

The kids like pickles.

That really annoys me.

Have they sold their house yet?

An intransitive verb is not used with a direct object. If something comes after an intransitive verb, that is, in the position usually inhabited by the direct object, it doesn't answer what? or whom?; instead it answers a question like where?, when?, how?, or how long?:

Her car died suddenly last week.

Someone was coughing loudly.

A single verb can have both transitive and intransitive uses:

They are playing soccer.

They've been playing all afternoon.

A transitive verb can also have an indirect object, which is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that comes before a direct object and indicates the person or thing that receives what is being given or done. Many common verbs can be used with both direct and indirect objects. In the following examples the indirect object is in italics:

Find her a chair.

Can you read me the letter?

Who gave her lawyers the information?

He's saving Caitlin a piece.

Examples of transitive in a Sentence

In “I like pie” and “She makes hats,” the verbs “like” and “makes” are transitive.

Recent Examples on the Web Even those bigwigs paid obeisance to someone and, eventually, by the transitive property of Saudi deference, to the king himself. — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2022 If a teacher’s intellectual, subjective role in educating her students is belittled, this has a transitive effect. — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 By the transitive property of wins, that means the Raiders have a shot at keeping Atlantic’s offense at bay. — Adam Lichtenstein, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Sep. 2021 All of this begs the question: how can a defense stop Bernhardt and — by transitive property — the Terps offense? — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 27 May 2021 Zach Morrison: Remember the transitive property in middle school math class? — Paul Talbot, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021 Thus, by the analyst’s clumsy use of the transitive property, the Quincy Institute and its fellow travelers are Nazi sympathizers. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020 While the transitive property doesn’t perfectly predict future outcomes, the Gators’ latest performances are lagging behind those of Bama. — Edgar Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 10 Dec. 2020 The sense of destiny that shrouds her characters gives them—and, by some transitive property, the reader—an archaic grandeur of feeling. — Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transitive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.