actively

UK: /ˈæktɪvli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ac•tive /ˈæktɪv/   adj. 

1. engaged in action or activity:
   an active life.
2. being in existence, progress, or motion:
   active hostilities.
3. marked by energetic involvement:
   active support.
4. involving physical exertion:
   active sports.
5. characterized by current activity, participation, or use:
   an active club member; an active bank account.
6. having a great deal of vigorous activity:
   an active stock market.
7. (of a chemical) effective;
   capable of producing an effect:
   Active ingredients in that toothpaste prevent cavities.
8. Grammar of or relating to a voice in grammar, a verb form, or construction in which the subject is usually the person or thing that performs or causes the action of the verb. In the verb form write in I write letters every day, the verb write is active(opposed to passive ).
9. Geology (of a volcano) currently in eruption or likely to erupt.
10. Military (of military personnel) currently on duty and prepared for military action.

n. [countable]

11. Grammar the active voice, or a form in this voice:
    Put that verb into the active.

ac•tive•ly, adv. 
ac•tive•ness, n. [uncountable] See -act-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ac•tive  (ak′tiv), adj. 

1. engaged in action;
   characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.;
   busy:
   an active life.
2. being in a state of existence, progress, or motion:
   active hostilities.
3. involving physical effort and action:
   active sports.
4. having the power of quick motion;
   nimble:
   active as a gazelle.
5. characterized by action, motion, volume, use, participation, etc.:
   an active market in wheat; an active list of subscribers.
6. causing activity or change;
   capable of exerting influence (opposed to passive):
   active treason.
7. effective (opposed to inert):
   active ingredients.
8. Grammar noting or pertaining to a voice of verbal inflection in which typically the subject of the sentence is represented as performing the action expressed by the verb (opposed to passive):
   Writes
   in He writes a letter every day is an active verb form.
9. requiring or giving rise to action;
   practical:
   an active course.
10. Geology (of a volcano) in eruption.
11. Business [Accountableing.] profitable;
    busy:
    active accounts.
12. requiring personal effort or attention;
    not automatic:
    an active alarm system.
13. Business interest-bearing:
    active paper.
14. [Med.] acting quickly;
    producing immediate effects:
    active remedies.
15. Sociology (of a crowd) engaging in purposeful activity, often of a militant nature. Cf. expressive (def. 4).
16. Aerospace able to transmit signals:
    an active communications satellite.
17. Electronics (of a device or system) acting as a source of electrical energy, as a generator, or capable of amplifying or converting voltages or currents, as a transistor or diode.
18. Energy (of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat by mechanical means.
19. Military serving on active duty.

n. 

20. Grammar
    • the active voice.
    • a form or construction in the active voice.
21. an active person, member, subscriber, etc.:
    The circular was mailed only to the actives on our list.
22. Informal Terms something showing considerable action or activity:
    On the stock market there was heavy trading in the actives.

• Latin
• Middle French
• Latin āctīvus (see act, -ive); replacing Middle English actif
• 1300–50

ac′tive•ly, adv. 
ac′tive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. acting; working; operative.
• 3. Active, energetic, strenuous, vigorous imply a liveliness and briskness in accomplishing something.
  Active suggests quickness and diligence as opposed to laziness or dilatory methods:
  an active and useful person.
  Energetic suggests forceful and intense, sometimes nervous, activity:
  conducting an energetic campaign.
  Strenuous implies arduous and zealous activity with a sense of urgency:
  a strenuous effort.
  Vigorous suggests strong, effective activity:
  using vigorous measures to accomplish an end.
• 4. agile, sprightly.

Antonyms

• 1. lazy.
• 5. sluggish.