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View synonyms for

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

/ əʊˈæɪ /

adjective

  1. tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events

  2. psychol of or denoting a mental process that affects a subsequent process

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • proactive noun
  • proactivity noun
  • proactiveness noun
  • proactively adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive1

First recorded in 1930–35; pro- 1 + active
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Word History and Origins

Origin of proactive1

C20: from pro- ² + ( re ) active
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Gerwer said he and his group decided they wanted to do something more proactive than just protest, so here they are.

From

“Without Thaïs being so proactive I don’t know when or at what stage I would’ve found it,” Munn tells The Times.

From

The artists hope that "proactive action" is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city.

From

“Parkinson’s doesn’t take any vacations, it doesn’t take any days off, we have to be on top of our game, we have to be proactive in our fight,” Hould said.

From

Now, officials have no such requirement, allowing them instead to launch “discretionary proactive investigations,” the complaint states.

From

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When To Use

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.

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