proactively

American  

[proh-ak-tiv-lee] / proʊˈæk tɪv li /

adverb

1. in advance and in order to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence, especially a negative or challenging one.

   I’m glad to be working with an IT company that's proactively strategizing for the future instead of reacting to yesterday's issues.

---

Etymology

Origin of proactively

proactive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

But it has the best chance of success when it’s approached proactively rather than reactively.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

“Investing proactively helps avoid higher costs tomorrow and ensures we can serve growing demand.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

“On Monday, March 16, Metro proactively limited employee access to many internal administrative computer systems after the agency’s security team discovered unauthorized activity,” an agency spokesperson said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

"Due to the ongoing Iran-US conflict... Jedco must proactively manage its available energy reserves... we are prioritising a strategic rationing of power," it said.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

One can cautiously make the case that the major political documents of the past were conceived in reaction to an intolerable state of affairs and events, not proactively, in anticipation of new situations and expectations.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai