English[]
Etymology[]
< Middle English actif < Old French actif < Latin activus < agere (“‘to do, to act’”); see act.
Pronunciation[]
Adjective[]
Active (comparative {{{1}}}, superlative {{{2}}})
Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; — opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.
- Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.
- In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; — opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct.
- active laws
- active hostilities
- an active volcano
- Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; — opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.
- Requiring or implying action or exertion; — opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.
- Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; — opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
- Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
- Implying or producing rapid action.
- an active disease
- an active remedy
- (grammar) Applied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active voice.
- (grammar) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.
- (grammar) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.
- (gay sexual slang) (of a homosexual man) enjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner
- (gay sexual slang) such a role in anal sex
Synonyms[]
Template:Checksyns
- (1): acting
- (2): agile, nimble
- (3): in action, in force, working
- (4): busy, diligent, energetic
- (6): operative, practical
- (7): brisk, lively
- (9.2): transitive
- (10): top
- See also Wikisaurus:active
Antonyms[]
- (1): passive
- (2): indolent, lethargic
- (3): dormant, extinct, quiescent
- (4): dull, indolent, inert, sluggish
- (5): sedentary, tranquil
- (6): speculative, theoretical
- (7): slow
- (9.1): passive
- (10): passive, bottom
Related terms[]
- act
See also[]
- versatile (in relation to sense 10)
Translations[]
having the quality or power of acting
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quick in physical movement
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in action
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given to action
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requiring or implying action or exertion
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given to action rather than contemplation
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brisk; lively
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(grammar)
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun[]
Singular |
Plural |
Active ({{{1}}})
- A person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.
External links[]
- Active in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- Active in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
French[]
Adjective[]
active f.
- Feminine of actif
Romanian[]
Pronunciation[]
- IPA: [ak'ti.ve]
Adjective[]
active
- Template:Ro-form-adj
- Template:Ro-form-adj
- Template:Ro-form-adj
- Template:Ro-form-adj
Spanish[]
Verb[]
Active (infinitive activar)
- first-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of activar.
- formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of activar.
- third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of activar.
af:active ang:active ar:active et:active el:active es:active fa:active fr:active gl:active ko:active hy:active io:active id:active it:active kn:active kk:active ku:active lt:active hu:active ml:active nl:active ja:active no:active pl:active pt:active ru:active simple:active fi:active sv:active ta:active te:active th:active tr:active vi:active zh:active