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

The consumer-inflation numbers, on the other hand, come largely from BLS staffers who actively survey businesses’ prices, including through in-person visits to stores and offices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I still had my Hinge open to girls, but I didn’t actively use the app.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, has said it is "actively" looking into media reports that Prince Andrew tried to obtain personal information about Ms Giuffre through his police protection.

Read more on BBC

"Even if it's not actively affecting your emotions in that moment, you've still got it with you, and you're still carrying it and it's still there."

Read more on BBC

As of 7 p.m. the outage remained in effect, and the airline said that it was actively working to restore operations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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