engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.; busy: an active life.
being in a state of existence, progress, or motion: active hostilities.
involving physical effort and action: active sports.
having the power of quick motion; nimble: active as a gazelle.
characterized by action, motion, volume, use, participation, etc.: an active market in wheat; an active list of subscribers.
causing activity or change; capable of exerting influence (opposed to passive): active treason.
effective (opposed to inert): active ingredients.
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.
requiring or giving rise to action; practical: an active course.
(of a volcano) in eruption.
Accounting. profitable; busy: active accounts.
requiring personal effort or attention; not automatic: an active alarm system.
interest-bearing: active paper.
Medicine/Medical. acting quickly; producing immediate effects: active remedies.
Sociology. (of a crowd) engaging in purposeful activity, often of a militant nature.Compare expressive (def. 4).
Aerospace. able to transmit signals: an active communications satellite.
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.
(of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat by mechanical means.
Military. serving on active duty.
noun
Grammar.
the active voice.
a form or construction in the active voice.
an active person, member, subscriber, etc.: The circular was mailed only to the actives on our list.
Informal. something showing considerable action or activity: On the stock market there was heavy trading in the actives.
Origin of active
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin āctīvus; replacing Middle English actif, from Middle French, from Latin; see act, -ive
SYNONYMS FOR active
1 acting; working; operative.
4 agile, sprightly.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR active ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR active
1 lazy.
5 sluggish.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR active ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for active
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.
activated resin, activated sludge, activation analysis, activation energy, activator, active, active anaphylaxis, active centre, active chronic hepatitis, active congestion, active duty
Unlike molecular and antigen diagnostic tests, the FDA warned that blood-based antibody tests were not intended to diagnose an active infection but rather reveal if someone previously had the virus.
The COVID-19 Charmer: How a Self-Described Felon Convinced Elected Officials to Try to Help Him Profit From the Pandemic|by Vianna Davila, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill|September 25, 2020|ProPublica
To ensure you’re getting those steps in and staying active this fall, there are a few essential items you might need to elevate your home or gym workout routine.
5 Fitness Products For Your Workout Routine This Fall|Jasmine Grant|September 25, 2020|Essence.com
Opposition groups with links to politically active churches — who were blamed for the recent virus resurgence — are planning a series of mass protests in the capital over the coming weeks.
South Korea’s Religious Right Torpedoes the Fight Against COVID-19|Fiona Zublin|September 24, 2020|Ozy
An initial handful of fine-dining partners has climbed to over 100 active and pledged members.
This restaurant duo want a zero-carbon food system. Can it happen?|Bobbie Johnson|September 24, 2020|MIT Technology Review
In 2018, Damer set up shop at an active geothermal area in New Zealand, named along the usual theme — Hells Gate — to test that hypothesis.
Life on Earth may have begun in hostile hot springs|Jack J. Lee|September 24, 2020|Science News
“The United States had gone to war declaring it must destroy an active weapons of mass destruction program,” the Times reported.
Political Memes That Absolutely Must Die in 2015|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Along the river, crumbling remnants of an active trading hub are overtaken by nature.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Female members have been involved in the carnage for the past two years, but never in such an active role.
The New Face of Boko Haram’s Terror: Teen Girls|Nina Strochlic|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It took three weeks for RSD to learn that James Seevakumaran had been an active member of its community.
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website|Brandy Zadrozny|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However there is little doubt that Harry has felt at his most happy and fulfilled when he has been active in his army life.
Can Harry Bury the Party Prince?|Tom Sykes|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was a handsome youngster, lightly clad and barefooted; and, although not yet full grown, of a strong and active build.
Kate Bonnet|Frank R. Stockton
But when learning the above series by my method, it was kept in an active state.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
An “active” or “passive” expression of the eyes was looked upon as especially significant.
The Measurement of Intelligence|Lewis Madison Terman
The years from 1854 to 1860 were on his part years of constant, active, and unwearied effort.
The Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln|Francis Fisher Browne
These are often charitable and public-spirited, and active in municipal rather than in parliamentary life.
The Long White Cloud|William Pember Reeves
British Dictionary definitions for active
active
/ (ˈæktɪv) /
adjective
in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something
busy or involvedan active life
physically energetic
exerting influence; effectivean active ingredient
grammar
denoting a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb, as kicked in The boy kicked the footballCompare passive (def. 5)
another word for nonstative
being fully engaged in military service (esp in the phrase on active service)
(of a volcano) erupting periodically; not extinctCompare dormant (def. 3), extinct (def. 3)
astronomy(of the sun) exhibiting a large number of sunspots, solar flares, etc, and a marked variation in intensity and frequency of radio emissionCompare quiet (def. 8)
commerce
producing or being used to produce profit, esp in the form of interestactive balances
of or denoting stocks or shares that have been actively bought and sold as recorded in the Official List of the London Stock Exchange
electronics
containing a source of poweran active network
capable of amplifying a signal or controlling some functionan active component; an active communication satellite
noun
grammar
the active voice
an active verb
mainlyUSa member of an organization who participates in its activities