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]
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." [1913 Webster]
In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes. [1913 Webster]
Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman. [1913 Webster]
Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn. [1913 Webster]
Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy. [1913 Webster]
Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive. See Active voice, under Voice. [1913 Webster]

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.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

active, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 a consisting in or marked by action; energetic; diligent (leads an active life; an active helper). b able to move about or accomplish practical tasks (infirmity made him less active).
2 working, operative (an active volcano).
3 originating action; not merely passive or inert (active support; active ingredients).
4 radioactive.
5 Gram. designating the voice that attributes the action of a verb to the person or thing from which it logically proceeds (e.g. of the verbs in guns kill; we saw him).
--n. Gram. the active form or voice of a verb.

Idiom

active carbon = activated carbon (see ACTIVATE). active list Mil. a list of officers available for service. active service full-time service in the armed forces.

Derivative

actively adv. activeness n.

Etymology

ME f. OF actif -ive or L activus (as ACT v.)

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THESAURUS

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

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ROGET THESAURUS

active

Activity

N activity, briskness, liveliness, animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy, snap, vim, nimbleness, agility, smartness, quickness, velocity, alacrity, promptitude, despatch, dispatch, expedition, haste, punctuality, eagerness, zeal, ardor, perfervidum aingenium, empressement, earnestness, intentness, abandon, vigor, devotion, exertion, industry, assiduity, assiduousness, sedulity, laboriousness, drudgery, painstaking, diligence, perseverance, indefatigation, habits of business, vigilance, wakefulness, sleeplessness, restlessness, insomnia, pervigilium, insomnium, racketing, movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness, flurry, officiousness, dabbling, meddling, interference, interposition, intermeddling, tampering with, intrigue, press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action, housewife, busy bee, new brooms, sharp fellow, sharp blade, devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank, hummer, hustler, live man, rustler, active, brisk, brisk as a lark, brisk as a bee, lively, animated, vivacious, alive, alive and kicking, frisky, spirited, stirring, nimble, nimble as a squirrel, agile, light-footed, nimble-footed, featly, tripping, quick, prompt, yare, instant, ready, alert, spry, sharp, smart, fast, quick as a lamplighter, expeditious, awake, broad awake, go-ahead, live wide-awake, forward, eager, strenuous, zealous, enterprising, in earnest, resolute, industrious, assiduous, diligent, sedulous, notable, painstaking, intent, indefatigable, unwearied, unsleeping, never tired, plodding, hard-working, businesslike, workaday, bustling, restless, restless as a hyena, fussy, fidgety, pottering, busy, busy as hen with one chicken, working, at work, on duty, in harness, up in arms, on one's legs, at call, up and doing, up and stirring, busy, occupied, hard at work, hard at it, up to one's ears in, full of business, busy as a bee, busy as a one-armed paperhanger, meddling, meddlesome, pushing, officious, overofficious, intrigant, astir, stirring, agoing, afoot, on foot, in full swing, eventful, on the alert, actively, with life and spirit, with might and main &c, with haste, with wings, full tilt, in mediis rebus, Int, be alive, look alive, look sharp!, move on, push on!, keep moving!, go ahead!, stir your stumps!, age quod agis!, jaldi!, karo!, step lively!, carpe diem, seize the day, nulla dies sine linea, nec mora nec requies, the plot thickens, No sooner said than done, veni vidi vici, catch a weasel asleep, abends wird der Faule fleissig, dictum ac factum, schwere Arbeit in der Jugend ist sanfte Ruhe im Al, hard work in youth means soft rest in age, the busy hum of men.

Physical Energy

N energy, physical energy, force, power, keenness, intensity, vigor, strength, elasticity, go, high pressure, fire, rush, acrimony, acritude, causiticity, virulence, poignancy, harshness, severity, edge, point, pungency, cantharides, seasoning, activity, agitation, effervescence, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, splutter, perturbation, stir, bustle, voluntary energy, quicksilver, resolution, exertion, excitation, strong, energetic, forcible, active, intense, deep-dyed, severe, keen, vivid, sharp, acute, incisive, trenchant, brisk, rousing, irritation, poignant, virulent, caustic, corrosive, mordant, harsh, stringent, double-edged, double-shotted, double- distilled, drastic, escharotic, racy, potent, radioactive, strongly, fortiter in re, with telling effect, the steam is up, vires acquirit eundo, the race by vigor not by vaunts is won.

Velocity

N velocity, speed, celerity, swiftness, rapidity, eagle speed, expedition, pernicity, acceleration, haste, spurt, rush, dash, race, steeple chase, smart rate, lively rate, swift rate, rattling rate, spanking rate, strapping rate, smart pace, lively pace, swift pace, rattling pace, spanking pace, strapping pace, round pace, flying, flight, lightning, greased lightning, light, electricity, wind, cannon ball, rocket, arrow, dart, hydrargyrum, quicksilver, telegraph, express train, torrent, eagle, antelope, courser, race horse, gazelle, greyhound, hare, doe, squirrel, camel bird, chickaree, chipmunk, hackee, ostrich, scorcher, Mercury, Ariel, Camilla, Harlequin, log, log line, speedometer, odometer, tachometer, strobe, radar speed detector, radar trap, air speed gauge, wind sock, wind speed meter, pedometer, fast, speedy, swift, rapid, quick, fleet, aliped, nimble, agile, expeditious, express, active, flying, galloping, light footed, nimble footed, winged, eagle winged, mercurial, electric, telegraphic, light-legged, light of heel, swift as an arrow, quick as lightning, quick as a thought, swiftly, with speed, apace, at a great rate, at full speed, at railway speed, full drive, full gallop, posthaste, in full sail, tantivy, trippingly, instantaneously, under press of sail, under press of canvas, under press of sail and steam, velis et remis, on eagle's wing, in double quick time, with rapid strides, with giant strides, a pas de geant, in seven league boots, whip and spur, ventre a terre, as fast as one's legs will carry one, as fast as one's heels will carry one, as fast as one can lay legs to the ground, at the top of one's speed, by leaps and bounds, with haste, vires acquirit eundo, I'll put a girdle about the earth in forty minutes, swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow, go like a bat out of hell, tempus fugit.

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