1
: characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation
an active life
2
: producing or involving action or movement
3
a
of a verb form or voice
: asserting that the person or thing represented by the grammatical subject performs the action represented by the verb
Hits in "he hits the ball" is active.
b
: expressing action as distinct from mere existence or state
active verbs such as "eat" and "sing"
4
: quick in physical movement : lively
6
: requiring vigorous action or exertion
active sports
7
: having practical operation or results : effective
an active law
8
a
: disposed to action : energetic
took an active interest
b
: engaged in an action or activity
an active club member
c
of a volcano
: currently erupting or likely to erupt compare dormant sense 2a, extinct entry 1 sense 1b
d
: characterized by emission of large amounts of electromagnetic energy
an active galactic nucleus
9
: engaged in full-time service especially in the armed forces
active duty
10
: marked by present operation, transaction, movement, or use
an active account
11
a
: capable of acting or reacting : reacting readily
active nitrogen
active ingredients
b
: tending to progress or to cause degeneration
active tuberculosis
c
of an electronic circuit element
: capable of controlling voltages or currents
d(1)
: requiring the expenditure of energy
active calcium ion uptake
(2)
: functioning by the emission of radiant energy or sound
radar is an active sensor
12
: still eligible to win the pot in poker
13
: moving down the line : visiting in the set
—used of couples in contra dances or square dances
14
medical
: producing active immunity
Active immunization against Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is now usually achieved with combined pertussis-tetanus-diphtheria (DTP) vaccine.—
Scientific American Medicine
Scientific American Medicine
actively
adverb
activeness
noun
plural actives
: an active person : one engaged in an action or activity
fraternity alumni and actives
We announced in December that Instagram now has over 600 million monthly actives and recently passed 400 million daily actives.—Mark Zuckerberg
Mark ZuckerbergSynonyms
Examples of active in a Sentence
Adjective
We stay active during the cold winter months by skiing and ice skating.
We are active members of our church.
While many give money to the organization, only a few are active participants.
She was politically active as a volunteer for her state representative.
They take an active interest in their children's education.
He has taken a more active role in the production of this album.
the bank's active and inactive accounts
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda Carroll, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
However, many parts of the brain or cortex are not fully active if external simulations aren’t present.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
Cj Haddad, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
The holistic treatment seeks to not only apply the line’s actives to the hair but to reduce overall stress—after all, stress to the body impacts the hair follicle.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for active 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The researchers found that replacing any less active behavior with five minutes of exercise could lower systolic blood pressure by 0.68 points and diastolic blood pressure by 0.54 points.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
However, many parts of the brain or cortex are not fully active if external simulations aren’t present.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
The app is also up from 200 million monthly actives since Meta’s second-quarter report in July.
—Cj Haddad, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
The holistic treatment seeks to not only apply the line’s actives to the hair but to reduce overall stress—after all, stress to the body impacts the hair follicle.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for active
Articles Related to active
Dictionary Entries Near active
Cite this Entry
“Active.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
active
adjective
ac·tive
ˈak-tiv 
1
: producing or involving action or movement
2
: representing the subject as performing the action expressed by the verb
"hits" in "she hits the ball" is an active verb
3
: having or requiring quick or energetic movements
an active child
active sports
4
a
: ready for action
takes an active interest
b
: engaged or participating in an action or activity
an active member
c
: erupting or likely to erupt
an active volcano
5
: engaged in or requiring full-time service especially in the armed forces
active duty
6
: marked by present action or use
an active account
a student's active vocabulary
7
a
: capable of acting or reacting
active ingredients
b
: tending to progress or increase
active tuberculosis
actively
adverb
activeness
noun
Medical Definition
active
adjective
ac·tive
ˈak-tiv
1
: capable of acting or reacting especially in some specific way
an active enzyme
active nitrogen
2
: tending to progress or to cause degeneration
active tuberculosis
3
: exhibiting optical activity
4
: requiring the expenditure of energy
active calcium ion uptake
5
: producing active immunity
active immunization
actively
adverb
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