Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

proactive

/pɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.41 in modern English

Syllables: proac-tive
IPA: /pɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/

16

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty.

Example Sentences

"We can deal with each problem as it pops up, or we can take a proactive stance and try to prevent future problems."
"Staff are also proactive in approaching any passengers looking as though they need assistance, rather than waiting to be approached."

Etymology

From pro- + active; originally coined 1933 by Paul Whiteley and Gerald Blankfort in a psychology paper, used in technical sense. Used in a popular context and sense (courage, perseverance) in 1946 book Man’s Search for Meaning by neuropsychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl, in the context of dealing with the Holocaust, as contrast with reactive.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: pro

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /pɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/
British English: /pɹəʊˈæk.tɪv/

Inflected Forms

more proactive (comparative) most proactive (superlative)

Derived Forms

proaction proactively proactiveness proactivist proactivity

Frequently Paired Words

preactive proact proactor

Synonyms

anticipatory forward-looking

Antonyms

reactive

Rhymes With

active attractive interactive radioactive inactive reactive unattractive retroactive refractive hyperactive overactive photorefractive

Questions

How do you pronounce proactive?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/.
What does proactive mean?: Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty.
Where does proactive come from?: From pro- + active; originally coined 1933 by Paul Whiteley and Gerald Blankfort in a psychology paper, used in technical sense. Used in a popular context and sense (courage, perseverance) in 1946 book Man’s Search for Meaning by neuropsychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl, in the context of dealing with the Holocaust, as contrast with reactive.

How to pronounce proactive

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