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   active

   /ˈaktɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits: "although he was seventy he was still robust and active" Similar mobileenergeticagilesportynimblevigorousvitaldynamicsprightlysprylivelyanimatedbouncybubblyperkyfriskyzestfulspiritedbusybustlingoccupiedinvolvedinformal:on the goon the movefull of get-up-and-gofull of vim and vigourfull of beanssparkyzippypeppybright-eyed and bushy-tailedgo-goOpposite listless
   • ▪ moving or tending to move about vigorously or frequently: "I couldn't feel the baby moving, and it was normally very active"
   • ▪ characterized by busy or lively activity: "they enjoyed an active social life"
   • ▪ (of a person's mind or imagination) alert and lively: "Caroline nodded slowly, her active mind already racing ahead"
   • 2. pursuing an occupation or activity at a particular place or in a particular way: "the artist was active in the 1920s"
   • ▪ participating or engaged in a particular sphere or activity in a positive or spontaneous rather than a passive way: "she was an active member of the society" Similar hard-workingbusyindustriousdiligenttirelesscontributingenterprisinginfluentialoccupiedengagedinvolvedenthusiastickeencommitteddevoteddeterminedzealousmilitantradicalinformal:go-gettinggo-aheadOpposite passiveindifferent
   • 3. (of a thing) working; operative: "the old watermill was active until 1960" Similar operativeworkingfunctioningfunctionaloperatingoperationalin actionin operationin forceliveeffectiveeffectualpowerfulpotentnon-passivenon-inertinformal:up and runningOpposite inactiveinert
   • ▪ (of an electric circuit) capable of modifying its state or characteristics automatically in response to input or feedback: "the receiver is continuously active whenever the vehicle ignition is switched on"
   • ▪ (of a volcano) that is erupting or has erupted in historical times: "the volcano became active on 28 March last year"
   • ▪ (of a disease) in which the symptoms are manifest; not in remission or latent: "active colitis"
   • ▪ having a chemical or biological effect on something: "active ingredients"
   • 4. denoting a voice of verbs in which the subject is typically the person or thing performing the action and which can take a direct object (e.g. she loved him as opposed to the passive form he was loved).

   noun

   • 1. an active form of a verb.

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘preferring action to contemplation’): from Latin activus, from act- ‘done’, from the verb agere.

   Derivatives

   • 1. activeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • A

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   • C

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   • T

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   • I

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   • V

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   • E

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