Active \Ac"tive\, a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]
1. 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body;
nimble; as, an active child or animal.
[1913 Webster]
Active and nervous was his gait. --Wordsworth.
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3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; --
opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as,
active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.
[1913 Webster]
4. 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.
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5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to
sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or
service; active scenes.
[1913 Webster]
6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical;
operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical;
as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
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7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
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8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease;
an active remedy.
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9. (Gram.)
(a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to
passive. See Active voice, under Voice.
(b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts
upon or affects something else; transitive.
(c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct
from mere existence or state.
[1913 Webster]
Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that
may readily be converted into money.
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Syn: Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick;
sprightly; prompt; energetic.
[1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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157 Moby Thesaurus words for "active":
acting, active voice, activist, activistic, acute, aggressive,
agile, alert, alive, animated, assiduous, at work, bouncing,
bouncy, breezy, brisk, bubbly, bustling, busy, catty, chipper,
compliant, conforming, conscientious, constant, devoted, devout,
diligent, driving, duteous, dutiful, dynamic, ebullient, effective,
effectual, effervescent, efficacious, efficient, energetic,
enterprising, enthusiastic, expeditious, faithful, flexible,
forceful, forcible, frisky, full, full of go, full of life,
full of pep, functional, functioning, go-go, going, going on,
graceful, hearty, hyperactive, impelling, impetuous, in exercise,
in force, in hand, in motion, in operation, in play, in practice,
in process, in the works, inaction, incisive, industrious,
influential, intense, keen, kinetic, live, lively, living, loyal,
lusty, medio-passive, mercurial, meticulous, mettlesome, middle,
middle voice, militant, mindful, mobile, motile, motivational,
motive, motor, moving, nimble, observant, occupied, on foot,
on the fire, on the go, on the move, ongoing, operating,
operational, operative, passive, passive voice, peppy, perky, pert,
physical, potent, powerful, practicing, prompt, propellant,
propelling, punctilious, punctual, quick, quicksilver, ready,
reflexive, regardful, robust, running, rushing, scrupulous,
smacking, snappy, spanking, spirited, sprightly, spry, stirring,
strenuous, strong, supple, take-charge, take-over, transitional,
traveling, trenchant, true, vibrant, vigorous, vivacious, vivid,
voice, wide-awake, working, zestful, zesty, zingy, zippy
Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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Active \Ac"tive\, a. [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]
1. 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.
2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body;
nimble; as, an active child or animal.
Active and nervous was his gait. --Wordsworth.
3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; --
opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as,
active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.
4. 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.
5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to
sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or
service; active scenes.
6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical;
operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical;
as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease;
an active remedy.
9. (Gram.)
(a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to
passive. See Active voice, under Voice.
(b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts
upon or affects something else; transitive.
(c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct
from mere existence or state.
Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property that
may readily be converted into money.
Syn: Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick;
sprightly; prompt; energetic.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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