The difference between Active and Inactive

When used as adjectives, active means having the power or quality of acting, whereas inactive means not active, temporarily or permanently.

Active is also noun with the meaning: a person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.

check bellow for the other definitions of Active and Inactive

  1. Active as an adjective:

    Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.

    Examples:

    "certain active principles;  the active powers of the mind"

    "synonyms: acting"

    "ant passive"

  2. Active as an adjective:

    Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble.

    Examples:

    "an active child or animal"

    "synonyms: agile nimble"

    "ant passive indolent still"

  3. Active as an adjective (specifically, of a volcano):

    In action; actually proceeding; working; in force Being an active volcano. Compare extinct and dormant

    Examples:

    "'active laws;  active hostilities"

    "synonyms: in action working in force"

    "ant quiescent dormant extinct"

  4. Active as an adjective:

    Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy

    Examples:

    "an active man of business;  active mind;  active zeal"

    "ant dulsluggish indolent inert"

    "synonyms: busy deedfudiligent energetic"

  5. Active as an adjective:

    Requiring or implying action or exertion

    Examples:

    "'active employment or service  active scenes"

    "synonyms: operative"

    "ant passive tranquisedentary"

  6. Active as an adjective:

    Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative

    Examples:

    "an active rather than a speculative statesman"

    "ant theoreticaspeculative"

  7. Active as an adjective:

    Brisk; lively.

    Examples:

    "an active demand for corn"

  8. Active as an adjective:

    Implying or producing rapid action.

    Examples:

    "an active disease;  an active remedy"

    "ant passive slow"

  9. Active as an adjective (grammar):

    About verbs. Applied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active 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.

  10. Active as an adjective (computing, of [[source code]]):

    Capable of being processed by a compiler or interpreter.

  11. Active as an adjective (gay sexual slang):

    enjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner.

    Examples:

    "synonyms: top"

    "ant passive bottom"

  1. Active as a noun:

    A person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.

  1. Inactive as an adjective:

    Not active, temporarily or permanently.

    Examples:

    "The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant."

    "An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors."

  2. Inactive as an adjective:

    Not functioning or operating; broken down

    Examples:

    "The photocopier is inactive pending repair."

  3. Inactive as an adjective:

    Retired from duty or service.

    Examples:

    "Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list."

  4. Inactive as an adjective (chemistry):

    Relatively inert.

    Examples:

    "Aluminium is inactive towards water."

  5. Inactive as an adjective (physics):

    Showing no optical activity in polarized light.

    Examples:

    "Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form."

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