proactive
Americanadjective
adjective
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tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events
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psychol of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process
Usage
What does proactive mean? Proactive is the opposite of reactive. Actions that are proactive are initiated not in reaction to a situation but instead out of a desire to make a positive change, prepare for a situation, or prevent something from happening. Proactive is commonly used to describe people who take such actions. It’s also commonly used in the phrase proactive measures, meaning proactive actions, especially those done to prevent a negative situation. Example: Henry credits most of his success to being proactive instead of waiting for opportunities to come to him.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of proactive
Explanation
The adjective proactive can describe a person who gets things done. If you are proactive, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. Active means "doing something." The prefix pro- means "before." So if you are proactive, you are ready before something happens. The opposite is being reactive, or waiting for things to unfold before responding. Think about winter cold season. A proactive person washes his hands and takes vitamins; a reactive person gets sick and takes cold medicine.
Vocabulary lists containing proactive
NAEP Test Words
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"Laws are not the only way to boost immunization”: an editorial from Nature
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Just Do It: Act
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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.
We have established that Carrick is keen to embrace United's front-footed DNA, looking to be proactive in their set-up this season rather than giving the opponent too much respect by sitting deep.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
"We've been really proactive in trying to get hockey sticks into people's hands in state schools, but resources are finite for a governing body and for a sport of our size," says Beer.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
“I feel like I’m really proactive and can onboard myself superquickly into any company because I’ve done it so many times,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Universal Studios Hollywood has been proactive with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, devoting a website to just how silent and unobtrusive its groundbreaking coaster would be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
It’s amazing that no one has yet blamed me for not being more proactive in the battle against the cow.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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.
