Dictionary.com
definitions

proactive

[ proh-ak-tiv ]
/ proʊˈæk tɪv /
|

adjective

serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or difficult one; anticipatory: proactive measures against crime.

RELATED CONTENT

How Do You Change Passive Voice Into Active Voice?In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. If you feel like you need a little more than that, keep reading.
READ MORE
gosuRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

aggressive, anxious, ardent, dedicated, eager, energetic, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, fanatical, intense, lively, passionate, spirited, zealous, banzai, can-do, take-charge

Nearby words

  1. proabortion,
  2. proaccelerin,
  3. proacrosomal granule,
  4. proaction,
  5. proactivator,
  6. proactive inhibition,
  7. proactively,
  8. proagon,
  9. prob,
  10. prob.

Origin of proactive

First recorded in 1930–35; pro-1 + active
Related formspro·ac·tive, nounpro·ac·tiv·i·ty, pro·ac·tive·ness, nounpro·ac·tive·ly, adverb
Can be confusedproactive reactionary reactive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pro-active

British Dictionary definitions for pro-active

proactive

/ (prəʊˈæktɪv) /

adjective

tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events
psychol of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process

Word Origin for proactive

C20: from pro- ² + (re) active
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pro-active

proactive

adj.

also pro-active, of persons or policies, as an opposition to reactive, 1921, from pro- + active. From 1933, in psychology (learning theory). Related: Proactively; proactiveness; proactivity.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper