different between actively vs proactive

English

Etymology

From late Middle English actyvely; equivalent to active +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ækt?vli/
• Hyphenation: ac?tive?ly

Adverb

actively (comparative more actively, superlative most actively)

1. In an active manner.

   He was actively listening.

   She was actively working, not "sleeping on the job".

2. (grammar) In the active form; not passive.

   Antonym: passively

   a word used actively

Derived terms

• retroactively

Translations

English

Etymology

pro- +? active; originally coined 1933 by Paul Whiteley and Gerald Blankfort in a psychology paper, used in technical sense. Used in a popular context and sense (courage, perseverance) in 1946 book Man’s Search for Meaning by neuropsychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl, in the context of dealing with the Holocaust, as contrast with reactive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p????ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

proactive (comparative more proactive, superlative most proactive)

1. Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty

Usage notes

Some consider proactive to be a buzzword, and it is associated with business-speak.

Depending on use, alternatives include active, preemptive, or “show initiative” instead of “be proactive”.

Synonyms

• anticipatory
• forward-looking

Antonyms

• reactive

Derived terms

• proactively
• proactivity
• proaction
• proactiveness

Related terms

• preactive
• proact
• proactor

Translations

References

• The Word Detective, Issue of February 5, 2001

French

Adjective

proactive

1. feminine singular of proactif