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Glite Dictionary
to be active

to be active

266 1.0
To move your body often by doing exercise or play
  • phrasal verb
: mantenerse activo
  • He'll be active in his community, known for his local campaigns.
  • encouraged to be active
  • be active in sport
  • be active in school

I, I thrive on being active and busy.

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Examples

  • Pete resides in Centerville, Georgia, where he is active in the Digital Imaging Photography Guild.

    Academic text (2008)

  • All are risk takers, all are active participants and great supporters of their communities.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Like you need to be active at least an hour or so a day.

  • Students understand more deeply when they are active in the learning process.

    Academic text (2011)

  • I, I thrive on being active and busy.

    Film Courage

  • Several groups have been active lately in Spain.

    Double Team (1997)

  • Is it true that if I stop being active, my muscles will shrink within days?

  • Their interests were broader; they were socially well-adjusted, and they were active in community and school affairs.

    Academic text (1990)

  • To stay healthy, you should be active for at least 30 minutes every day.

  • The coach encouraged the players to be active throughout the game to maintain their energy.

Synonyms

engaged
vsto be active
126 3.4

Giving full attention to an activity or idea

means taking physical action or movement rather than mental focus
energetic
vsto be active
88 1.6

Full of energy and active

describes taking physical action rather than just feeling high energy
vigorous
vsto be active
78 4.1

Having a lot of strength and energy

applies to physical movement in general rather than force alone
occupied
vsto be active
75 1.8

Busy doing something and not free to do other things

means being physically active or moving, not just unavailable
to bustle
vsto be active
12 4.2

To move quickly and busily while doing many small tasks

is any physical activity or movement rather than mere busyness
exercising
vsto be active
7 1.0

Physical activity you do to keep fit and healthy

includes any physical movement or activity, not only fitness routines
to busy
vsto be active
5 1.0

To keep yourself active by doing something

focuses on moving or being physically active rather than task occupation
to bustle about
vsto be active
2 4.1

To move around quickly while busy with small tasks

refers more generally to being physically active, not only task movement
to occupy oneself
vsto be active
1 4.1

To keep yourself busy with an activity

refers specifically to being physically active, not only filling time

Antonyms

to rest
757 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

to idle
8 3.2

To spend time doing nothing

inactive
7 2.3

Not moving and not showing much physical or mental energy

How Active

energetic
88 1.6
busy
∞ 1.0
to be active
266 1.0
inactive
7 2.3

Surface Forms

be active infinitive
was active past
been active past participle
being active present participle
is active third person singular

Morphology

be + active

The meaning is directly compositional: 'be' (exist in a state) + 'active' (energetic, not passive) yields 'to exist in an active/energetic state'. This is a standard predicate adjective construction found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Be active comes from the picture of a body that is moving: be + active shows someone 'not idle', like walking, playing, or doing work instead of sitting still. So to be active today means to move, take part in activities, and keep your body working.