proactive

UK: /prəʊˈæktɪv/ US: (prō ak′tiv)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•ac•tive  (prō ak′tiv), adj. 

1. serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, esp. a negative or difficult one;
   anticipatory:
   proactive measures against crime.

• pro-¹ + active 1930–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

proactive / prəʊˈæktɪv/ adjective

1. tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events
2. of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process

Etymology: 20th Century: from pro-² + ( re) active