How to pronounce proactive
Say it like proh-AK-tiv. Proactive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AK).
- proh
- AK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Proactive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- AKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of proactive
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: proh-AK-tiv.
What does proactive mean?
- Acting in advance to deal with an expected change or difficulty.“We can deal with each problem as it pops up, or we can take a proactive stance and try to prevent future problems.”
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.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with proactive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of proactive.
- attractive
- interactive
- radioactive
- inactive
- reactive
- unattractive
- retroactive
- refractive
- psychoactive
- hyperactive
Questions about saying proactive
How do you pronounce proactive?
Say proh-AK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˌproʊˈæktɪv/. In British English it is /prəʊˈæktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in proactive?
Proactive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AK). Broken into parts: proh · AK · tiv.
Is proactive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /prəʊˈæktɪv/ (proh-AK-tiv).