actively
Americanadverb
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in a way that involves deliberate and vigorous engagement or effort.
Our search for your missing son has not slowed and there are important leads being actively pursued even at this moment.
Latin America is here—actively present in U.S. history, culture, and politics.
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with a high degree of volume, use, participation, etc..
Crude oil is the world's most actively traded commodity.
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in a way that is operative or effective at the time; currently.
On any given day, roughly 20 volcanoes are actively erupting.
Well over a million people are actively subscribed and learning languages with the app worldwide.
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in a way that involves physical exercise or movement.
Every volunteer role at the day center is helpful in enabling seniors to live actively, independently, and with dignity.
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Grammar. in or by means of the active voice, where the subject of the verb is also the doer of the action.
Anything expressed with a passive verb could also be expressed actively, so the choice of one over the other is often for stylistic effect.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of actively
Explanation
Anything described by the adverb actively is happening right now or because of a conscious effort, or a little of both. You probably won’t find a job unless you’re actively looking. If you’re actively doing something, you’re involved in it now. People who actively look for a fight usually find one. If the President is actively involved in peace talks, he’s getting involved in them personally. If you’ve written a perfect sonnet, it’s not going to get published until you actively try to find a place for it. The opposite of actively is passively.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Actively managed funds in particular are hot because stockpickers have the help of the market’s widening breadth.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
Actively managed ETFs, which pick stocks and bonds, or offer some kind of derivative strategy, made up a tiny slice of the total market three years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
Inside the legal system, though, McLaughlin is known for something else: Actively sabotaging the Department of Homeland Security in court through her crass, often false public statements.
From Slate • Feb. 18, 2026
Actively resolving stressors -- such as clearing up an argument -- is a key part of processing stress and allows emotions to settle more quickly.
From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2025
Actively pursued by Colbert, who divined an occult force behind the adversaries to his power, the Compagnie fell back upon its habitual protector, and had the bitter disappointment of beseeching in vain.
From Louis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle 1652-1693 by Barine, Arvede
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
