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English adjective: active

1. active tending to become more severe or wider in scope


SamplesActive tuberculosis.


Similarprogressive


Domain categorypathology


Antonymsinactive

2. active engaged in or ready for military or naval operations


SamplesOn active duty.
The platoon is combat-ready.
Review the fighting forces.


Synonymscombat-ready, fighting


Similaroperational


Domain categoryarmed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine


Antonymsnonoperational, inactive

3. active disposed to take action or effectuate change


SamplesA director who takes an active interest in corporate operations.
An active antagonism.
He was active in drawing attention to their grievances.


Similaractivist, activistic, hands-on, proactive


Attributeactiveness, activity


Antonymspassive, inactive

4. active taking part in an activity


SamplesAn active member of the club.
He was politically active.
The participating organizations.


Synonymsparticipating


Similarinvolved


Antonymsuninvolved

5. active characterized by energetic activity


SamplesAn active toddler.
Active as a gazelle.
An active man is a man of action.


Similarabout, acrobatic, agile, astir, athletic, gymnastic, hot, hyperactive, nimble, on the go, overactive, quick, sporty, spry


See alsoenergetic, lively


Attributeactiveness, activity


Antonymsinactive

6. active exerting influence or producing a change or effect


SamplesAn active ingredient.


Similaractivated, counteractive, surface-active


Antonymsinactive

7. active full of activity or engaged in continuous activity


SamplesAn active seaport.
An active bond market.
An active account.


Similarbrisk, bustling, busy, going, open, springy


Antonymsinactive

8. active in operation


SamplesKeep hope alive.
The tradition was still alive.
An active tradition.


Synonymsalive


Similarexistent, existing


Antonymsnonexistent

9. active (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions


Domain categoryastronomy, uranology


Antonymsquiet

10. active expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor:


SamplesHemingway favors active constructions.


Domain categorygrammar


Antonymspassive

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


Synonymsdynamic


Domain categorygrammar


Antonymsstative

12. active (of e.g. volcanos) capable of erupting


Similaralive, live


See alsolive


Antonymsextinct

13. active (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt


SamplesActive volcanos.


Similareruptive


Attributeaction, activeness, activity


Domain categoryvent, volcano


Antonymsdormant, inactive

14. active engaged in full-time work


SamplesActive duty.
Though past retirement age he is still active in his profession.


Similaractivated


Antonymsinactive


English noun: active

1. active (substance) chemical agent capable of activity


Synonymsactive agent


Broader (hypernym)chemical agent

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


Samples`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice.


Synonymsactive voice


Broader (hypernym)voice


Antonymspassive, passive voice

3. active (person) a person who is a participating member of an organization


SamplesThe club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees.


Broader (hypernym)individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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