proactive
Americanadjective
adjective
-
tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Laws are not the only way to boost immunization”: an editorial from Nature
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Just Do It: Act
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As Hong Kong adopts a new economic-governance framework, policy is likely to become more proactive, moving away from the city’s traditionally minimalist approach through increased public spending and countercyclical measures, Yeung said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Indeed, Anton has a lot to react to; Hamilton’s Claire is the proactive role, forcing the action at every turn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Dognosis says it aims to improve "proactive and preventative medicine" while boosting "human-canine communication".
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
I know you say you always respond to her messages, but perhaps she needs you to be a more proactive communicator.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
I decide it can’t hurt to be proactive here, so I type in her address and start an email before I can stop myself.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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.
