active

adjective

ˈak-tiv How to pronounce active (audio)
Definition of activenext
1
as in operating
being in effective operation the abandoned factory had not been active for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement the fish are active today, but we still haven't caught anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in engaged
involved in often constant activity all morning the crowd at the coffeehouse kept Marion and her helper pretty active

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of active On July 1, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health declared an active outbreak of the disease in the oceanside community of Playa Langosta in the western province of Guanacaste. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026 But in recent years, the informal community has become more active — and, at times, more divisive. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026 The Dolphins placed wide receiver Chris Bell on the active/NFI list on Tuesday, just months after the former Louisville standout was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. — Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 Today, they're marketed to everyone from busy parents, active adults and frequent travelers to office workers looking for a satisfying afternoon snack. — Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for active
Recent Examples of Synonyms for active
  1. operating
  2. energetic
  3. engaged
  4. operational
  5. lively
  6. diligent
  7. operative
  8. animated
Adjective
  • That sits on the books of the league’s 32 Equity investment arm, and 1/32 of any gains or losses in the entity flow through the Packers’ non-operating income.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
  • True, some if the upside surprise has come from non-operating gains on holdings in huge, private AI pioneers, but not all of it.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Definition of operating
Adjective
  • Bergé—still blustery and energetic at sixty-eight—flanks Saint Laurent protectively as the two leave their hotel for the ceremony, where the designer is set to receive a lifetime-achievement award.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As a rookie last season, Watkins established himself as one of the Wizards’ most energetic and physical perimeter defenders.
    — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • Across the country, laws have changed, communities have taken a harder look at aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance, and homeowners have become more engaged in conversations about the financial sustainability and safety of their buildings.
    — Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Stay engaged in the conversation instead of multitasking or checking your phone.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • As airlines promote their eco-friendly initiatives this summer, experts advise looking past the marketing to find companies making genuine operational changes.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • With characterization finished, GRETA is entering its regular operational phase as a primary instrument for FRIB users.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of operational
Adjective
  • Players have long complained about less-lively balls that force them to swing harder to hit them through the court.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The pilot sets up interesting tensions between Duke and surrogate father Kingsley and a livelier adversarial role for Pinnock, but Kingsley is gone for the majority of the six episodes (out of eight) sent to critics and Pinnock’s absence is felt.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • Nevertheless, scholars and activists have done diligent work to calculate the damage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Stronger, more detailed laws are essential to ensure diligent human review, prevent complacency, and protect individuals from potentially misguided AI guidance, fostering accountability in this evolving field.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of diligent
Adjective
  • Splatoon Raiders ditches the series' trademark, competitive multiplayer shooting, to focus entirely on single-player and co-operative raids.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 23 July 2026
  • While some experts remain cautious about banks' long-term commitment, stablecoin on-chain volume is rapidly increasing, with the GENIUS Act's January 2027 operative date marking a crucial future milestone for the industry.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of operative
Adjective
  • In Thursday’s announcement, Canal+ highlighted that the new deal would also see a strengthening of its support for new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking; debut films and emerging talent; diversity film and animated films.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 July 2026
  • Although animated sequels have majorly rebounded at the box office, original fare remains challenged.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of animated

Browse Nearby Words

activators
active
actively
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Cite this Entry

“Active.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/active. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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