proactive

American  

[proh-ak-tiv] / proʊˈæk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or challenging one; anticipatory.

   The new guidelines will help industry employers develop proactive measures to keep their workplaces safe.

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proactive British  

/ prəʊˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events

2. psychol of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process

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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

• proactive
  noun
• proactively
  adverb
• proactiveness
  noun
• proactivity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of proactive

First recorded in 1930–35; pro- ¹ + active

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.

Example Sentences

Binance said around that time it had taken proactive steps to limit its exposure to the Iranian marketplace.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Little is known about whether the proactive cyber deterrence that has defined U.S. elections for much of the past decade remains in place in any other form.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

The head of the National Business Crime Centre explained how police forces take a proactive approach to tackling the issue, working to identify offenders, disrupt repeat behaviour, and ensure those responsible are held to account.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

The world has also learned a thing or two from the last pandemic, and countries are being proactive about isolation and contact tracing.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

“Mrs. Jackson, I’m sorry that you feel that the school district has not been proactive regarding the incident with your daughter; however, an investigation is ongoing.”

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas