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ac·tive

Pronounced:

/ˈæktɪv/Listen to audio

Function:

adjective

Meaning:

1 [more ac*tive; most ac*tive] : doing things that require physical movement and energy We stay/keep active during the cold winter months by skiing and ice skating. Despite her age, she has been able to maintain her active [=busy] lifestyle. Cats are most active [=energetic, lively] at night.
2 [more ac*tive; most ac*tive] a : involved in the activities of a group or organization We are active members of our church. While many give money to the organization, only a few are active participants. : participating in an action or activity She was politically active as a volunteer for her state representative.often + in They were active in the antiwar movement of the 1960s. active in women's causes b : involving action or participation They take an active interest in their children's education. He has taken/played a more active role in the production of this album.
3 : marked by regular action or use the bank's active and inactive accounts He became sexually active [=he began having sex] at the age of 21.
4 of a volcano : likely to explode violently or produce fire and hot liquid rock : capable of erupting Most volcanoes on this island are still active but a few are inactive.
5 of a disease : becoming worse or continuing to have bad effects active tuberculosis The disease remains active throughout the patient's life.
6 : having a chemical effect especially on the body The medicine has two active ingredients. the active ingredient in/of marijuana
7 a US : involving service in the military as a main job After two years of active duty [=two years of being a full-time member of the military] she entered the reserves. She was on active duty for two years. b : involving fighting in a war as a member of the military He saw no active service [=he did not fight in any battles] during his time in the army. He was on active service in three separate wars. soldiers returning home from active service
8 grammar a of a verb or voice : showing that the subject of a sentence is the one doing the action expressed by the verb Picked in I picked the apples is an active verb because it shows that the subject I is the one who picked the apples. Hits in She hits the ball is active, while hit in The ball was hit is passive. The active voice is a way of writing or speaking that uses active verbs. The sentence The birds are singing is written in the active voice.compare passive b of a verb : expressing action rather than describing the state of something Words like walk, sing, and eat are active verbs. In the sentence Look at this picture, the verb look is active.
—ac·tive·ly adverb They participate actively in their church. actively involved in a conversation
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