productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

prō-

1

: having the quality or power of producing especially in abundance

productive fishing waters

2

: effective in bringing about

investigating committees have been productive of much good

—R. K. Carr

3

a

: yielding results, benefits, or profits

b

: yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities

4

: continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions

un- is a productive prefix

5

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough

productively adverb

productiveness noun

Synonyms

• constructive
• formative

Examples of productive in a Sentence

I had a very productive day.

I am most productive in the morning.

Some staff members are more productive than others.

Recent Examples on the Web

Howard is surrounded by an embarrassment of riches at Ohio State, which possesses the best group of receivers in the country headlined by freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith and a productive veteran in Emeka Egbuka. —Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

The most productive teams are those in which the members believe there is a uniquely good fit between this group of individuals and the task at hand. —London Business School, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

The 39-year-old also voiced his willingness to sit down with the former NBA MVP to work through their respective issues with one another in a productive manner. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 8 Jan. 2025

Even Chase Brown, the second-year Cincinnati player from the University of Illinois, did a lot of productive things against the Broncos. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing productive

• hyper-productive

Kids Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

1

: having the power to produce plentifully

productive soil

productive fishing waters

2

: producing something

efforts productive of much good

3

: giving results

a productive meeting

productively adverb

productiveness noun

Medical Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv, prō- 

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough