Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
prize (3)
prize broker
prize-giving
prize ring
prizefight
prizewinner
PRO
pro (1)
pro (2)
pro (3)
pro- (1)
pro- (2)
pro-am
pro bono
pro-choice
pro-form
pro forma
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

proactive

pro·ac·tive [ prō áktiv ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
taking initiative: taking the initiative by acting rather than reacting to events

[Mid-20th century. After retroactive]

pro·ac·tion noun
pro·ac·tive·ly adverb

Word Usage

When people name words they despise as jargon, proactive is often on the list. Proactive does meet a need, serving as the opposite of reactive more naturally than, for example, anticipatory or assertive is able to. Nonetheless, it should be used sparingly.

Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft