proactive
adjective
Alexandra SifferlinMichael Tannenbaum et al.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.
Synonyms
Examples of proactive in a Sentence
Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Easley said Citizens could see the writing on the wall, and wanted to be proactive.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
In the face of modern developments and repercussions associated with data breaches, far too many organizations still take the reactive rather than proactive approach.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
In the 12 months since last year’s spring break, city leaders sought to take proactive measures to change the narrative for 2024.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Home Manager The best part of the new Thumbtack update, however, is the effort the company put in to make the app more proactive than reactive.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Embracing opportunities for cross-functional learning also broadens the knowledge base, while staying attuned to industry trends cultivates a proactive approach to skill attainment.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
Given that Instagram users already share Reels with friends via DM and through Stories, the feature is designed to be a bit more proactive about that sharing and instead allow people to discover viral Reels together.
—Emily Price, PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
This proactive approach is a game-changer for the ever increasing footprint of these large facilities.
—Timothy Papandreou, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proactive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1933, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near proactive
Cite this Entry
“Proactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proactive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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proactive
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