active

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ac·tive

(ăk′tĭv)

adj.

1. Being in physical motion: active fish in the aquarium.

2. Functioning or capable of functioning.

a. Marked by energetic activity; busy: active stock and bond markets; spent an active day sightseeing.

b. Involving or requiring physical exertion and energy: an active workout at the gym.

a. Being in a state of action; not quiescent: active hostilities along the border.

b. Erupting or liable to erupt; not dormant: an active volcano.

a. Marked by or involving direct participation: took an active interest in politics; played an active role on the committee.

b. Currently in use or effect: an active membership.

c. Openly acknowledged or expressed: an active dislike of the new neighbors.

6. Producing an intended action or effect: active ingredients.

7. Grammar

a. Indicating that the grammatical subject of a verb is performing or causing the action expressed. Used of a verb form or voice.

b. Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.

8. Of or relating to the management of an investment portfolio by continually making investment decisions based on new information as opposed to maintaining a predetermined strategy or reproducing the returns of a market or index.

9. Electronics

a. Being a source of electrical energy, as a generator.

b. Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.

10. Being on full military duty and receiving full pay.

1. Grammar

a. The active voice.

b. A construction or form in the active voice.

2. A participating member of an organization: union actives.

[Middle English actif, from Old French, from Latin āctīvus, from āctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

ac′tive·ly adv.

ac′tive·ness n.

Synonyms: active, busy, energetic, vigorous, dynamic, lively
These adjectives mean having or displaying energy. Active is the most general, connoting physical or mental exertion in a variety of contexts: an active toddler; an active imagination; remained active in later years by walking and swimming.
Busy suggests engagement in sustained activity on a particular task or job: a busy newspaper staff rushing to meet the deadline.
Energetic and vigorous emphasize performance of an activity or pursuit with enthusiasm or intensity: an energetic competitor; a vigorous crusader against drunk driving.
Dynamic connotes energy and forcefulness that often inspire others or bring about change: a dynamic leader who revitalized the party.
Lively suggests animated activity or alertness: a lively folk dance; a lively interest in politics.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

active

(ˈæktɪv)

adj

1. in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something

2. busy or involved: an active life.

3. physically energetic

4. exerting influence; effective: an active ingredient.

5. (Grammar) grammar

a. 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 football. Compare passive⁵

b. another word for nonstative

6. (Military) being fully engaged in military service (esp in the phrase on active service)

7. (Physical Geography) (of a volcano) erupting periodically; not extinct. Compare dormant³, extinct³

8. (Astronomy) astronomy (of the sun) exhibiting a large number of sunspots, solar flares, etc, and a marked variation in intensity and frequency of radio emission. Compare quiet⁸

9. (Commerce) commerce

a. producing or being used to produce profit, esp in the form of interest: active balances.

b. of or denoting stocks or shares that have been actively bought and sold as recorded in the Official List of the London Stock Exchange

10. (Electronics) electronics

a. containing a source of power: an active network.

b. capable of amplifying a signal or controlling some function: an active component; an active communication satellite.

11. (Grammar) grammar

a. the active voice

b. an active verb

12. chiefly US a member of an organization who participates in its activities

[C14: from Latin āctīvus. See act, -ive]

ˈactively adv

ˈactiveness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ac•tive

(ˈæk tɪv)

adj.

1. engaged in action or activity; characterized by energetic work, motion, etc.: an active life.

2. being in existence, progress, or motion: active hostilities.

3. marked by or disposed to direct involvement or practical action: active support.

4. involving physical action: active sports.

5. agile; nimble.

6. characterized by current activity, participation, or use: an active member; an active account.

7. characterized by considerable or vigorous activity: an active market in wheat.

8. capable of exerting influence (opposed to passive): active treason.

9. effective (opposed to inert): active ingredients.

10.

a. of, pertaining to, or being a voice, verb form, or construction having a subject represented as performing or causing the action expressed by the verb, as the verb form write in I write letters every day (opposed to passive).

b. (of a verb) expressing an action rather than a state; nonstative.

11. requiring or giving rise to action; practical.

12. (of a volcano) in eruption or liable to erupt; not dormant or extinct.

13. (of a fault) experiencing recurrent seismic movement.

14.

a. acting as a source of electrical energy, as a generator.

b. capable of amplifying or converting voltages or currents, as a transistor or diode.

15. (of military personnel) on active duty.

16. the active voice.

17. a form or construction in the active voice.

[1300–50; < Middle French < Latin āctīvus < āctus, past participle of agere to do, act]

ac′tive•ly, adv.

ac′tive•ness, n.

active

In surveillance, an adjective applied to actions or equipments which emit energy capable of being detected.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

active

Used to describe a form of verb in which the grammatical subject performs the action, for example, “The government took steps.” Compare passive.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	active - chemical agent capable of activity active agent chemical agent - an agent that produces chemical reactions
	2.	active - the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb; "`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice" active voice voice - (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes
	3.	active - a person who is a participating member of an organization; "the club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees" individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"
Adj.	1.	active - tending to become more severe or wider in scope; "active tuberculosis" pathology - the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases inactive - (pathology) not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly
	2.	active - engaged in or ready for military or naval operations; "on active duty"; "the platoon is combat-ready"; "review the fighting forces" combat-ready, fighting armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" operational - (military) of or intended for or involved in military operations
	3.	active - disposed to take action or effectuate change; "a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations"; "an active antagonism"; "he was active in drawing attention to their grievances" passive, inactive - lacking in energy or will; "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredith
	4.	active - taking part in an activity; "an active member of the club"; "he was politically active"; "the participating organizations" participating involved - connected by participation or association or use; "we accomplished nothing, simply because of the large number of people involved"; "the problems involved"; "the involved muscles"; "I don't want to get involved"; "everyone involved in the bribery case has been identified"
	5.	active - characterized by energetic activity; "an active toddler"; "active as a gazelle"; "an active man is a man of action" lively - full of life and energy; "a lively discussion"; "lively and attractive parents"; "a lively party" energetic - possessing or exerting or displaying energy; "an energetic fund raiser for the college"; "an energetic group of hikers"; "it caused an energetic chemical reaction" inactive - not active physically or mentally; "illness forced him to live an inactive life"; "dreamy and inactive by nature"
	6.	active - exerting influence or producing a change or effect; "an active ingredient" inactive - not exerting influence or change
	7.	active - full of activity or engaged in continuous activity; "an active seaport"; "an active bond market"; "an active account" inactive - lacking activity; lying idle or unused; "an inactive mine"; "inactive accounts"; "inactive machinery"
	8.	active - in operation; "keep hope alive"; "the tradition was still alive"; "an active tradition" alive existent, existing - having existence or being or actuality; "an attempt to refine the existent machinery to make it more efficient"; "much of the beluga caviar existing in the world is found in the Soviet Union and Iran"
	9.	active - (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole quiet - of the sun characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sunspots e.g.
	10.	active - expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions" grammar - the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics) passive - expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb; "academics seem to favor passive sentences"
	11.	active - (used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being dynamic grammar - the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics) stative - ( used of verbs (e.g. `be' or `own') and most participial adjectives) expressing existence or a state rather than an action
	12.	active - (of e.g. volcanos) capable of erupting live - exerting force or containing energy; "live coals"; "tossed a live cigarette out the window"; "got a shock from a live wire"; "live ore is unmined ore"; "a live bomb"; "a live ball is one in play" extinct - (of e.g. volcanos) permanently inactive; "an extinct volcano"
	13.	active - (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt; "active volcanos" volcano, vent - a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt dormant, inactive - (of e.g. volcanos) not erupting and not extinct ; "a dormant volcano"
	14.	active - engaged in full-time work; "active duty"; "though past retirement age he is still active in his profession" inactive - not engaged in full-time work; "inactive reserve"; "an inactive member"

active

adjective

1. busy, involved, occupied, engaged, tiring, lively, energetic, bustling, restless, on the move, strenuous, tireless, on the go (informal) Having an active youngster about the house can be quite wearing.
busy slow, lazy, idle, sluggish, inactive, sedentary, unoccupied

2. energetic, strong, spirited, quick, vital, alert, dynamic, lively, vigorous, potent, animated, vibrant, forceful, nimble, diligent, industrious, sprightly, vivacious, on the go (informal), alive and kicking, spry, full of beans (informal), bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (informal) the tragedy of an active mind trapped by failing physical health
energetic dull, dormant, inactive, unimaginative, torpid, inoperative

3. enthusiastic, committed, engaged, enterprising, devoted, activist, aggressive, ambitious, hard-working, forward, militant, energetic, assertive, forceful, zealous, industrious We should play an active role in politics.

4. in operation, working, live, running, moving, acting, functioning, stirring, at work, in business, in action, operative, in force, effectual, astir Guerrilla groups are active in the province.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

active

adjective

1. In action or full operation:

alive, functioning, going, operating, operative, running, working.

2. Disposed to action:

brisk, driving, dynamic, dynamical, energetic, enterprising, lively, peppy, sprightly, spry, vigorous, zippy.

Informal: snappy.

3. Possessing, exerting, or displaying energy:

brisk, dynamic, dynamical, energetic, forceful, kinetic, lively, sprightly, strenuous, vigorous.

Informal: peppy.

Translations

ثَائِر، نَافِث لِلحِمَمسَارِي المَفْعُول، قَائِمفَاعِل، نَاشِط، نَاجِعفَعَّال،نَاشِطمبني للمعلوم

aktivníčinnýplatnýúčinnýčilý

aktivgyldigivrigvirksom

aktiv rührigTatformtätigTätigkeitsform

δραστήριος ενεργητικός ενεργός

activo en actividad en vigor

aktiivasjalikelavkehtivtarmukas

aktiivinen

actif agissant assidu effectif en activité

aktivan

cselekvõérvényben vanható

germyndí gildivirkur

attivo occupazione viavai arzillo attivare

活動的な

활동적인

aktyviaiaktyvumasaktyvusgaliojantisgyvumas

aktīvsdarāmā kārtadarbīgsdarbojošiesefektīvs

actief

aktiv aktiv i energisk gyldig involvert i

aktywny

ativo

активный деятельный

agilnýaktívnyčinný

dejaventvornik

aktiv

คล่องแคล่ว

etkin faal geçerli aktif enerjik

năng động

活跃的火山仍在活动中的积极的起作用的主动语态的

active

[ˈæktɪv]

A. ADJ

1. (= lively) [person, brain] → activo; [imagination] → vivo
he has an active mind → tiene una mente muy activa

2. (= busy) [life, day, period] → de mucha actividad, muy movido

3. (= not passive) [member, population] → activo
guerrilla groups are active in the province → grupos de guerrilleros están luchando en la provincia
animals which are active at night → los animales que desarrollan su actividad por la noche
we are giving it active consideration → lo estamos estudiando en serio
to take an active interest in sth → interesarse vivamente por algo
after 17 years' active involvement in the party → después de 17 años de militar activamente en el partido
to play or take an active part in sth → participar activamente en algo
he withdrew from active participation in the project → dejó de participar activamente en el proyecto
to be politically active, to be active in politics → militar políticamente
he played an active role in bringing about a ceasefire → desempeñó un papel activo a la hora de conseguir el alto al fuego
to be sexually active → tener relaciones sexuales
the government must take active steps to bring down inflation → el gobierno debe tomar medidas directas para bajar la inflación

4. (= not extinct) [volcano] → en actividad

5. (Chem, Phys, Electronics) → activo
the active ingredient → el ingrediente activo

6. (Fin, Comm) [trading, market] → activo
active assets → activo msing productivo
active balance → saldo m activo
active money → dinero m activo, dinero m disponible
active partner → socio/a m/f activo/a
active trade balance → balanza f comercial favorable, balanza f comercial acreedora

7. (Mil)
active service or > duty (US) → servicio m activo
to be on active service or duty → estar en activo
to die on active service → morir en acto de servicio
he saw active service in Italy and Germany → estuvo en servicio activo en Italia y Alemania

8. (Ling, Gram)
active vocabulary → vocabulario m activo
the active voice → la voz activa
in the active voice → en voz activa

B. N (Gram) the active → la voz activa

C. CPD active birth N (Med) → parto m natural
active file N (Comput) → fichero m activo
the active list N → la reserva activa
to be on the active list → estar en la reserva activa
active suspension N (Aut) → suspensión f activa

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

active

[ˈæktɪv]

adj

(= energetic, busy) [person, life] → actif/ive
He's a very active person → Il est très actif.

(in particular activity, campaign etc) [person, member] → actif/ive; [support, measures] → actif/ive
an active member of the Green Party → un membre actif des Verts
to play an active part in sth → jouer un rôle actif dans qch
to be politically active → être actif/ive politiquement
to be sexually active → être sexuellement actif/ive

[volcano] → en activité

(CHEMISTRY) [substance] → actif/ive

n (GRAMMAR) the active → l'actifactive duty (mainly US) n → campagne f
on active duty → en campagneactive ingredient n → principe m actif

active

adj → aktiv (also Gram, Comput); mind, social life → rege; volcano → aktiv, tätig; dislike → offen, unverhohlen; file → im Gebrauch; (= radioactive) → radioaktiv; to be active (terrorists, rebels) → operieren; (lawyer, campaigner) → aktiv sein; to be physically/politically/sexually active → körperlich/politisch/sexuell aktiv sein; to be active in politics → politisch aktiv or tätig sein; they should be more active in improving safety standards → sie sollten die Verbesserung der Sicherheitsvorschriften etwas tatkräftiger vorantreiben; to be under active consideration → ernsthaft erwogen werden; on active service (Mil) → im Einsatz; to see active service (Mil) → im Einsatz sein; to be on the active list (Mil) → zur ständigen Verfügung stehen; active duty (esp US Mil) → aktiver Wehrdienst; to be on active duty (esp US Mil) → aktiven Wehrdienst leisten; he played an active part in it → er war aktiv daran beteiligt; active assets (Comm) → Aktiva pl; active partner (Comm) → persönlich haftender Gesellschafter; active ingredient (Chem) → aktiver Bestandteil; active suspension (Aut) → aktive Aufhängung

n (Gram) → Aktiv nt; in the active → im Aktiv

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

active

[ˈæktɪv] adj (gen) (Gram) (volcano) → attivo/a
to play an active part in → partecipare attivamente a, prendere parte attiva in
we are giving it active consideration → lo stiamo considerando attentamente

active

(ˈӕktiv) adjective

1. energetic or lively; able to work etc. At seventy, he's no longer very active.

2. (busily) involved. She is an active supporter of women's rights.

3. causing an effect or effects. Yeast is an active ingredient in bread-making.

4. in force. The rule is still active.

5. (of volcanoes) still likely to erupt.

6. of the form of a verb in which the subject performs the action of the verb. The dog bit the man.

ˈactiveness noun

ˈactively adverb

actively engaged in politics.

acˈtivity – plural acˈtivities – noun

1. the state of being active or lively. The streets are full of activity this morning.

2. something which one does as a pastime, as part of one's job etc. His activities include fishing and golf.

active

→ نَشِيط aktivní aktiv aktiv δραστήριος activo aktiivinen actif aktivan attivo 活動的な 활동적인 actief aktiv aktywny ativo активный aktiv คล่องแคล่ว etkin năng động 活跃的

active

a. activo-a; diligente, hábil, enérgico-a.

active

adj activo; sexually — sexualmente activo; Are you sexually active?..¿Es Ud. sexualmente activo?.. ¿Está teniendo relaciones sexuales?

References in classic literature ?

It appears, from the names of the gentlemen who composed the council, that some, at least, of its most active members had also been active and leading characters in the parties which pre-existed in the State.

View in context

Now Nietzsche believed that the first or the noble-morality conduced to an ascent in the line of life; because it was creative and active. On the other hand, he believed that the second or slave-morality, where it became paramount, led to degeneration, because it was passive and defensive, wanting merely to keep those who practised it alive.

View in context

Pursued by two very active young men armed with fire-hardened spears, tottering along with incredible swiftness on his two spindle legs, Kwaque had fallen exhausted at Daughtry's feet and looked up at him with the beseeching eyes of a deer fleeing from the hounds.

View in context

The vermiform larvae of moths, flies, beetles, &c., resemble each other much more closely than do the mature insects; but in the case of larvae, the embryos are active, and have been adapted for special lines of life.

View in context

He could not now understand how he could ever even have doubted the necessity of taking an active share in life, just as a month before he had not understood how the idea of leaving the quiet country could ever enter his head.

View in context

That this income was regularly paid by the active Trustee, Mr.

View in context

This brave active man, who would have hastened towards any danger or toil to rescue Hetty from an apprehended wrong or misfortune, felt himself powerless to contemplate irremediable evil and suffering.

View in context

The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.

View in context

"Brother, these people know you, and your active support will bear fruit abundantly.

View in context

In the twilight of the morning light seems active, darkness passive; in the twilight of evening it is the darkness which is active and crescent, and the light which is the drowsy reverse.

View in context

Had he believed that a union was necessary to the happiness of both, or of either, or had he known how fervently I loved her, he would have acted differently; but seeing me so calm and cool, he would not for the world disturb my philosophy; and though refraining entirely from any active opposition to the match, he would yet do nothing to bring it about, and would much rather take the part of prudence, in aiding us to overcome our mutual predilections, than that of feeling, to encourage them.

View in context

Consider, now, how it must be in the case of four boats all engaging one unusually strong, active, and knowing whale; when owing to these qualities in him, as well as to the thousand concurring accidents of such an audacious enterprise, eight or ten loose second irons may be simultaneously dangling about him.