1. (a.) Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.

2. (a.) Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.

3. (a.) In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.

4. (a.) Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.

5. (a.) Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.

6. (a.) Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.

7. (a.) Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.

8. (a.) Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.

9. (a.) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive. See Active voice, under Voice.

10. (a.) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.

11. (a.) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.

acting active voice activist activistic acute aggressive agile alert alive animated assiduous at work bouncing bouncy breezy brisk bubbly bustling busy catty chipper compliant conforming conscientious constant devoted devout diligent driving duteous dutiful dynamic ebullient effective effectual effervescent efficacious efficient energetic enterprising enthusiastic expeditious faithful flexible forceful forcible frisky full full of go full of life full of pep functional functioning go-go going going on graceful hearty hyperactive impelling impetuous in exercise in force in hand in motion in operation in play in practice in process in the works inaction incisive industrious influential intense keen kinetic live lively living loyal lusty medio-passive mercurial meticulous mettlesome middle middle voice militant mindful mobile motile motivational motive motor moving nimble observant occupied on foot on the fire on the go on the move ongoing operating operational operative passive passive voice peppy perky pert physical potent powerful practicing prompt propellant propelling punctilious punctual quick quicksilver ready reflexive regardful robust running rushing scrupulous smacking snappy spanking spirited sprightly spry stirring strenuous strong supple take-charge take-over transitional traveling trenchant TRUE vibrant vigorous vivacious vivid voice wide-awake working zestful zesty zingy zippy