6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An active volcano has erupted recently or is expected to erupt quite soon. □ …molten lava from an active volcano.
7 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An active substance has a chemical or biological effect on things. □ The active ingredient in some of the mouthwashes was simply detergent.
8 N‑SING In grammar, the active or the active voice means the forms of a verb which are used when the subject refers to a person or thing that does something. For example, in 'I saw her yesterday', the verb is in the active. Compare passive . SYNONYMS active ADJ 1
busy: Phil Martin is an exceptionally busy man.
lively: Josephine was bright, lively and cheerful.
energetic: Blackwell is 59, strong-looking and enormously energetic.
sprightly: …the sprightly 85-year-old President.
a c|tive du ty N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] Active duty means the same as active service . [mainly AM ]
a c|tive se r|vice N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces. [mainly BRIT ] □ In April 1944 he was killed on active service.
ac|tiv|ism /æ kt I v I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Activism is the process of campaigning in public or working for an organization in order to bring about political or social change.
ac|tiv|ist ◆◇◇ /æ kt I v I st/ (activists ) N‑COUNT An activist is a person who works to bring about political or social changes by campaigning in public or working for an organization. □ The police say they suspect the attack was carried out by animal rights activists. COLLOCATIONS activist NOUN
noun + activist : community, party; human rights, peace
adjective + activist : environmental, political; anti-apartheid, black, gay, left-wing
verb + activist : arrest, detain; anger SYNONYMS activist NOUN
militant: The militants might still find some new excuse to call a strike.
organizer: The organisers of the demonstration concede that they hadn't sought permission for it.
ac|tiv|ity ◆◆◇ /ækt I v I ti/ (activities )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Activity is a situation in which a lot of things are happening or being done. □ …an extraordinary level of activity in the government bonds market. □ [+ of ] …the electrical activity of the brain.
2 N‑COUNT An activity is something that you spend time doing. □ You can take part in activities from canoeing to bird watching.
3 N‑PLURAL The activities of a group are the things that they do in order to achieve their aims. □ He had also been imprisoned for his political activities. COLLOCATIONS activity NOUN
1
noun + activity : brain; business
adjective + activity : electrical, planetary, volcanic; economic, physical; frantic, heightened, intense
verb + activity : stimulate; monitor
2
noun + activity : holiday, leisure, sports
adjective + activity : daily, everyday, extracurricular; criminal, suspicious
3
noun + activity : fundraising, government, terrorist
adjective + activity : military
verb + activity : coordinate, monitor, organize, undertake; suspend SYNONYMS activity NOUN
1
action: Hollywood is where the action is now.
bustle: There was a good deal of cheerful bustle.
commotion: Sounds of voices and commotion could be heard downstairs now.
2
pursuit: His favourite childhood pursuits were sailing, swimming and cycling.
hobby: My hobbies are letter writing, football, music, photography, and tennis.
pastime: His favourite pastime is golf.
a ct of Go d (acts of God ) N‑COUNT An act of God is an event that is beyond human control, especially one in which something is damaged or someone is hurt.
ac|tor ◆◇◇ /æ ktə r / (actors ) N‑COUNT An actor is someone whose job is acting in plays or films. 'Actor' in the singular usually refers to a man, but some women who act prefer to be called 'actors' rather than 'actresses'. □ His father was an actor in the Cantonese Opera Company. □ You have to be a very good actor to play that part.
ac|tress ◆◇◇ /æ ktrəs/ (actresses ) N‑COUNT An actress is a woman whose job is acting in plays or films. □ She's a very great dramatic actress.
ac|tual ◆◇◇ /æ ktʃuəl/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use actual to emphasize that you are referring to something real or genuine. [EMPHASIS ] □ The segments are filmed using either local actors or the actual people involved. □ In this country, the actual number of miscarriages in humans is never fully recorded.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use actual to contrast the important aspect of something with a less important aspect. [EMPHASIS ] □ She had compiled pages of notes, but she had not yet gotten down to doing the actual writing.
3 in actual fact → see fact SYNONYMS actual ADJ 1
genuine: There was a risk of genuine refugees being returned to Vietnam.
reaclass="underline" Who's to know if they're real guns or not?