Active — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈak-tiv/ ac·tive

Meaning & Definition of Active

Active (adjective)

  1. characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation
  2. producing or involving action or movement
  3. asserting that the person or thing represented by the grammatical subject performs the action represented by the verb

Active (noun)

  1. an active person, one engaged in an action or activity

Active (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being in effective operation

    "the abandoned factory had not been active for years"

    similar: alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, operative, running, working, in commission, in force, in gear, on line
    related: effective, effectual, employable, operable, usable, viable, workable, performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding, astir, bustling, busy, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving
    opposite: broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative
    near: deactivated, decommissioned, ineffective, ineffectual, useless, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating

  2. having much high-spirited energy and movement

    "the fish are active today, but we still haven't caught anything"

    similar: airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, on the go
    related: dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited, high-strung, nervous, skittish
    opposite: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid
    near: indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious

  3. involved in often constant activity

    "all morning the crowd at the coffeehouse kept Marion and her helper pretty active"

    similar: assiduous, bustling, busy, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious, occupied, sedulous, tied-up, working
    related: knee-deep, swamped, animated, astir, buzzing, flourishing, happening, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant, absorbed, concentrating, engrossed, focused, immersed, intent, preoccupied, alive, functional, functioning, going, living, operating, operational, operative, running, energetic, vigorous, hardworking, indefatigable, tireless, untiring
    opposite: idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied
    near: free, asleep, dormant, latent, lifeless, quiescent, sleepy, inert, passive, dead, dull, slow, inoperative, nonoperating

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Active

The most common words with a similar meaning to Active:

alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, operative, running, working, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, assiduous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Active

Words with the opposite meaning of Active:

broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid, idle, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied

Related Words for Active

effective, effectual, employable, operable, usable, viable, workable, performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding, astir, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving, dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble

Near Antonyms of Active

deactivated, decommissioned, ineffective, ineffectual, useless, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, inert, latent, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating, indolent, lazy, unambitious, lethargic, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive

Word Forms of Active

Inflections: actives

Derived words: actively (adverb), activeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Active

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin āctīvus, from āctus (past participle of agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do") + -īvus -ive agent

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Active

Words & Phrases Containing Active

active immunity, active-matrix, active shooter, active site, active suspension, active transport, active duty, active service

Frequently Asked Questions about Active

What does "Active" mean?

"Active" means characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Active"?

Other words for "Active" include alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on and operating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Active" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Active"?

There are 128 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Active". Common alternatives include alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational and operative.

What is the opposite of "Active"?

Antonyms of "Active" include broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional and nonfunctioning. Near antonyms include deactivated, decommissioned, ineffective and ineffectual.

How do you use "Active" in a sentence?

Examples of "Active" in a sentence: "the abandoned factory had not been active for years"; "the fish are active today, but we still haven't caught anything"; "all morning the crowd at the coffeehouse kept Marion and her helper pretty active".

Is "Active" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Active" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Active" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Active" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Active"?

"Active" is pronounced /ˈak-tiv/ and divided into syllables as ac·tive.