Words / B2

AKT-ivl-ee/ˈæktɪvli/

Actively means in a way that involves effort, action, or participation, not passivity: listen actively; actively involved; actively discourage. Active is the adjective (already related); energetically is a close twin for effort. Pupils should listen actively; still name the oracy criterion. Mix-up: actually (already related); actively vs passively. Do not write actively for sitting in silence with no task in the source.

Meaning

In a way that involves effort, action, or participation, not passivity.

Examples

• “Pupils should listen actively, the handbook said; still name the oracy criterion.”
• “The council actively discouraged fly-tipping, which is the “take steps against” sense.”

Good to know

listen / take part actively; actively involved / engaged; actively encourage / discourage. Adjective: active. Opposite: passively. Trap: actually. Education, citizenship, and news. With effort and participation, not sitting it out.

Near in meaning

energetically, vigorously, purposefully

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