proactive

adjective

pro·​ac·​tive (ˌ)prō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce proactive (audio)
1
[pro- entry 2 + reactive] : acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes
Once patients have the big data about their bodies, the thinking goes, they can be proactive about their health, cut care costs and foster better relationships with their doctors.Alexandra Sifferlin
Proactive managers are planners; they anticipate crises rather than reel from them.Michael Tannenbaum et al.
2
[pro- entry 1] psychology : relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
Because of proactive interference, you may have difficulty remembering a new area code (you keep dialing the old one by mistake).Jeffrey Nevid

Did you know?

People who tend to react to a problem only when it's gotten serious could be called reactive people. Until recently, reactive (in this sense) didn't really have an antonym. So proactive was coined to describe the kind of person who's always looking into the future in order to be prepared for anything. A good parent attempts to be proactive on behalf of his or her children, trying to imagine the problems they might be facing in a few months or years. A company's financial officers study the patterns of the company's earnings to make sure it won't risk running short of cash at any point in the next year or two. Proactive has only been around a few decades, and it can still sometimes sound like a fashionable buzzword.

Examples of proactive in a Sentence

A survey was given out to customers so that the company could take proactive steps to improve their service. The city is taking a proactive approach to fighting crime by hiring more police officers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This election ran smoothly because of the legislation and proactive lawsuits from the conservative movement, argued Arizona state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in challenging the 2020 election. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024 Taco Bell has been proactive in using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram (META) to engage with users, and the Tex-Mex chain has even gone so far as to let customers vote through the Taco Bell app on which menu items should make a comeback. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 Recognizing the early warning signs and making these proactive lifestyle changes is the first step to prevent the disease and keep your bones healthy. Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024 Supporters said the measure would encourage cities to tackle homelessness and be proactive in public health and safety issues. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for proactive 

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of proactive was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near proactive

Cite this Entry

“Proactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proactive. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

proactive

adjective
pro·​ac·​tive prō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce proactive (audio)
: acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes
proactively adverb

Medical Definition

proactive

adjective
pro·​ac·​tive (ˈ)prō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce proactive (audio)
: relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
proactive inhibition of memory
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!