: in a proactive manner : in a way that anticipates future problems, needs, or changes
Leaders … can predict potential team challenges and address them proactively.—Jimi Gibson
… a system that allows us to alert customers if there's an issue with travel, whether their flight is delayed or proactively letting them know there is a transit strike in New York, or whatever.—Steven Barnhart
By working proactively with charter organizations and other outside groups, district leaders could take a role in shaping the array of new alternative schools so that it benefits students most …—Los Angeles Times

Examples of proactively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
OpenAI had invited Calif to join its Patch the Planet initiative, an effort to proactively find and patch security vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 To help, Forbes Communications Council members share how teams can proactively shape their company’s reputation and why that work matters. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Citizen Lab called on advertisers and government officials to take concrete action to proactively prevent campaigns like AdFection. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 With the system in place, TransUnion can also work with companies to proactively block calls from their impersonators. — Rob Pegoraro, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proactively

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proactively was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Proactively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proactively. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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