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

Derived Forms

• proactively
  adverb
• proactiveness
  noun
• proactive
  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

“People are getting more proactive about their health,” said Dr. Lisa Cassileth, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills specializing in breast surgery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

For many people, taking supplements can feel like a sensible, proactive health habit.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

Talbot says he’s confident that the proactive measures on behalf of the federal government will mitigate the screwworm’s reach and therefore not impact the beef supply locally or nationally.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

All of my friends who seemed proactive about their careers already had jobs or internships in their preferred fields.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 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