actively

[ak-tiv-lee]

adverb

1. 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.

2. with a high degree of volume, use, participation, etc..

   Crude oil is the world's most actively traded commodity.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

• preactively adverb
• quasi-actively adverb
• semiactively adverb
• superactively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of actively¹

active + -ly

Example Sentences

“Fraud is illegal. Exploitation is illegal. And yet too many plaintiff attorneys are actively drumming up these cases in the hope of a big payday. AB 218 allowed that,” read a statement from Harrison.

From Los Angeles Times

"If we do locate a shark, we can then tell the lifeguard and they can go out and actively disperse the shark with a jet ski or we can evacuate the water."

From BBC

"We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations; however there is currently no estimated timeline for recovery," it said at the time.

From BBC

Especially as the members are actively involved in the songwriting process.

From Los Angeles Times

Laura is an older woman, highly educated, actively devout, intelligent, resourceful, good-humored and a long-time resident of a community that struggles to balance its relative wealth with the neediness of surrounding communities.

From Salon

Related Words

• ardently 
• breathlessly www.thesaurus.com
• cordially 
• earnestly 
• energetically www.thesaurus.com
• enthusiastically 
• fervently 
• gladly 
• heartily 
• hungrily www.thesaurus.com
• impatiently www.thesaurus.com
• intently 
• longingly www.thesaurus.com
• promptly 
• readily 
• sincerely 
• vigorously 
• willingly 
• zealously www.thesaurus.com