n the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb
`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice
n a person who is a participating member of an organization
the club issues a list of members, both the actives and the retirees
a tending to become more severe or wider in scope
active tuberculosis
s engaged in or ready for military or naval operations
on active duty
a disposed to take action or effectuate change
a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations an active antagonism he was active in drawing attention to their grievances
s taking part in an activity
an active member of the club he was politically active
a characterized by energetic activity
an active toddler active as a gazelle an active man is a man of action
a exerting influence or producing a change or effect
an active ingredient
a full of activity or engaged in continuous activity
an active seaport an active bond market an active account
s in operation
an active tradition
a (of the sun) characterized by an increased occurrence of sunspots and flares and radio emissions
a expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions"
a (used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being
a (of e.g. volcanos) capable of erupting
a (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt
active volcanos
a engaged in full-time work
active duty though past retirement age he is still active in his profession
a presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
the predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different actual and imagined conditions
s taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated
we saw the actual wedding on television filmed the actual beating
s being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
her actual motive
s existing in act or fact
rocks and trees...the actual world actual heroism the actual things that produced the emotion you experienced
s being or existing at the present moment
the ship's actual position is 22 miles due south of Key West