active
B1Neutral - common in academic, business, everyday, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Engaged in action or movement; functioning or operating.
In grammar, indicating that the subject performs the action. In business/military, a member currently serving. In chemistry, a substance that readily undergoes reaction. In lifestyle, a person who is physically dynamic.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective, but can be a noun in specific contexts (e.g., 'an active' in military/grammar). Has a broad semantic range from physical activity to operational status to grammatical voice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In business, 'active account/directory' is universal. In grammar, 'active voice' is the universal term.
Connotations
Equally positive connotations of energy and involvement in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties with no significant disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be ~ in (sth)be ~ in doing sthkeep/stay/remain ~~ role/participation/memberVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take an active interest in”
- “Play an active part”
- “On active duty”
- “Active as a bee”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to accounts, clients, projects, or markets that are currently engaged or operational.
Academic
Describing participation, learning, or research methods. Also the grammatical term 'active voice'.
Everyday
Describing a person's lifestyle, involvement in hobbies/community, or physical state.
Technical
In computing: an open file or process. In chemistry: a reactive substance. In geology/volcanology: a volcano.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The chemical is a powerful active.
- He's listed as an active in the reserves.
American English
- The medication's active is acetaminophen.
- He's on the actives list for the National Guard.
adjective
British English
- She plays an active role in the local council.
- The software has an active licence.
- He has a very active social life.
- Keep the file active while you work on it.
American English
- She takes an active role in the homeowners association.
- The software has an active license.
- He maintains a very active calendar.
- Keep the file active while you work on it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather is very active for his age.
- Dogs need to be active every day.
- Is this computer account active?
- She's an active member of the book club.
- The volcano is still active, so it's dangerous.
- Try to use the active voice in your writing.
- The company is taking a more active approach to marketing.
- The active ingredient in the medicine relieves pain.
- He was recalled to active duty.
- The researcher maintained an active involvement in all phases of the project.
- The treaty remains active despite political tensions.
- Her critique was grounded in active observation rather than passive reception.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ACT' + 'IVE'. If you are involved in an ACTivity, you are ACTIVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS ACTIVITY / KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'an active mind' visualizes thoughts in motion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "активный" for 'current' in time (use 'current').
- In grammar, "active voice" is "действительный залог", not "активный залог" in formal grammar.
- "Active ingredient" is "действующее вещество", not just "активный ингредиент".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'active' for 'current' when referring to time (e.g., 'the active week' vs. 'the current week').
- Confusing 'active' with 'activist' (a person who campaigns).
- Overusing 'active' where 'busy' or 'energetic' is more precise.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'active' in a grammatical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Active' means engaged in action or movement. 'Proactive' means taking action to cause or prepare for future change, not just reacting. A proactive person is active, but an active person isn't necessarily proactive.
Yes, but in specific contexts. In grammar, it's short for 'active voice'. In military/espionage, it refers to a currently serving member. In chemistry/pharma, it refers to the active ingredient.
Generally yes, as it connotes energy, involvement, and functionality. However, context matters (e.g., 'active threat', 'active fault line', 'active infection' are negative).
The opposite is 'passive voice'. In active voice, the subject performs the verb's action (e.g., 'The cat chased the mouse.'). In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., 'The mouse was chased by the cat.').