proactive

[proh-ak-tiv]

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.

proactive

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive¹

C20: from _pro- ² + ( _re ) _active

Example Sentences

"We use technologies to proactively find and shut down dealers' accounts, block search results for a wide range of drug-related terms and support law enforcement efforts," a spokesperson added.

From BBC

A Snapchat spokesperson said using the site to buy and sell vapes or illegal drugs was strictly against rules and that it proactively shut down dealers' accounts.

From BBC

DeSilva, the Railroad Commission’s spokesperson, defended using 2019 as the baseline because “about five years ago we began taking proactive steps to reduce flaring in Texas.”

From Salon

In being proactive, he ends up stepping out in situations where he is less likely to win the ball, leading to scrambles at corners.

From BBC

As part of the campaign, the Home Office has for the first time proactively contacted international students directly by text and email.

From BBC

When To Use

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.