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active

ac·tive

active

 
 
pronunciation:
aek tihv
parts of speech:
adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: constantly doing something; busy; energetic.
She's getting old now, but she's very active.He does a lot of volunteer work and is very active in the community.
synonyms:
busy, dynamic, energetic, engaged, lively, restless, stirring, vigorous
antonyms:
idle, inactive, lazy, listless, sedentary, torpid
similar words:
alive, animated, bustling, driving, enterprising, frisky, indefatigable, industrious, peppy, sprightly, strenuous, tireless, vibrant, zealous
definition 2: capable of constant or quick movement.
A squirrel's tail is as active as its body.
synonyms:
agile, brisk, energetic, fleet, lively, nimble, quick, spry, swift, tireless, vigorous, volant
antonyms:
inert, stock-still
similar words:
alert, indefatigable, robust, speedy, sprightly, zippy
definition 3: currently operating, in process, or in effect.
She is no longer an active member of the committee.Is your library card still active?He hasn't been active in politics for over a decade.
synonyms:
alive, effective, functioning, operative, running, working
antonyms:
asleep, dormant, inactive, passive, quiescent, torpid
similar words:
dynamic, effectual, fertile, in effect, live, living, ongoing, productive, reactive
definition 4: having effect or able to produce effect, as a chemical.
Menthol is on the list of active ingredients for this medication.
synonyms:
effective, potent
antonyms:
inactive, inert
similar words:
causative, efficacious, forceful, influential, operative, powerful, puissant, strong
definition 5: in grammar, designating the voice or form of a verb whose subject acts through the verb, rather than being the object of the verb's action, such as "signed" in "Five petitioners signed the document". (Cf. passive.)
In the sentence "The government passed a new law," the verb "passed" is in its active form.In the sentence "A new law was passed by the government," the verb is not active but passive.
antonyms:
passive
definition 6: engaging in activity rather than relaxing, sleeping, or being dormant.
Raccoons are active at night.Mauna Kea is an active volcano.
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part of speech: noun
definition: in grammar, the active voice, or a verb in this voice.
For this sentence, it would be best to use the active rather than the passive.
antonyms:
passive
similar words:
voice
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derivations: actively (adv.), activeness (n.)
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