I've
1 Americansuffix
-
(forming adjectives) indicating a tendency, inclination, character, or quality
divisive
prohibitive
festive
massive
-
( forming nouns of adjectival origin )
detective
expletive
contraction
Usage
See contraction.
Etymology
Origin of -ive
< Latin -īvus; in some words, representing French -ive, feminine of -if
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.
See Examples For:
But I’ve seen healthcare powers of attorney activated, decisions made, and the parents survive — and be surprised by the decisions that were made.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I’ve had a super blessed writing career, but the highest highs I’ve ever had are on a baseball field.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I haven’t cut myself off yet, but I’ve been more discerning,” he tells Salon.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
"It happened very quickly, because I was moving fast. My daughter was very hungry and she was telling me, 'Dad, stop taking photos, I've had enough,'" he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
I’m just too scared to tell Grandma I’ve made up my mind.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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What should be done with the terminations -able, -ible, -tion, -cial, -tive, -ive, and -sion?
From Division of Words Rules for the Division of Words at the Ends of Lines, with Remarks on Spelling, Syllabication and Pronunciation by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)
In Shakespeare many adjectives, especially those ending in -ful, -less, -ble, and -ive, have both an active and a passive meaning.
From The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar by Black, Ebenezer Charlton
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.