NYT Dictionary

ACTIVE

/ˈæk.tɪv/
AdjectiveNounAC-tiveac-tive · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active From Middle English actyf, from Old French actif, from Latin āctīv(us), from agere (“to do, to act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti. By surface analysis, act + -ive.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

actingagilenimblein actionworkingin forcebusydeedfuldiligentenergetic

Antonyms

passiveindolentstillquiescentdormantextinctdullsluggishinerttranquil

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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