having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.-quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.-in action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.-given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.-requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.-given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.-brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.-implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.-applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive. see active voice, under voice. -applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.-applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.