inactive

/ɪnˈæktɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈæktɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)i-ˈnak-tiv/ (ame, mw)

inactive — adjective

  • inactivepositive
  • more inactivecomparative
  • most inactivesuperlative

1. describes a person or animal that is not moving, not doing much, or lacking the

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a person or animal that is not moving, not doing much, or lacking the energy to be physically or mentally active — for example, someone who sits still for hours without exercising.

例句

The doctor told Romi that her lifestyle was too inactive and she needed more exercise.

too + adjective for excessive degree

During winter, the bears become inactive and sleep for many weeks.

become + adjective for change of state

同義詞
  • sedentary

    more specific — only describes a lifestyle with little physical movement, not a temporary state

  • idle

    can mean doing nothing at a given moment, but less neutral; 'idle' often implies wasted time

  • sluggish

    more negative — suggests slowness or lack of energy, not just inactivity

反義詞
  • active

    direct opposite at all register levels

  • energetic

    implies positive liveliness, not just the absence of inactivity

用法筆記

Often describes a lifestyle, a physical state, or an animal's seasonal behaviour. Frequently appears after 'too,' 'become,' 'feel,' or 'remain.' Contrast with sense 2 — this sense applies to living beings, not objects.

常見錯誤

❌I was inactive to finish my homework.
✅I was too inactive to finish my homework.
💡'inactive' needs a degree word like 'too' before it can connect to an infinitive clause.

❌ 'My phone is inactive because the battery is dead.' (meaning not working) — This describes an object (sense 2). For a phone that is not working, say 'dead' or 'not working'; 'inactive' for objects means deliberately not in use, not broken.

2. describes equipment, machinery, a system, or an account that is not being used a

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes equipment, machinery, a system, or an account that is not being used at the present time or is deliberately turned off and not running.

例句

The factory kept several machines inactive because there were no orders to fill.

keep + object + adjective for maintaining a state

Gabriel found an old, inactive phone in the drawer that still had battery power.

同義詞
  • idle

    widely used for machines and factories; 'idle' is slightly more informal

  • unused

    purely factual — does not carry the nuance of being deliberately kept off

  • dormant

    implies potential to become active again; used for accounts, systems, or processes

反義詞
  • active

    direct opposite across all domains

  • operational

    specifically for machinery or systems in working order

用法筆記

Subject is usually an object, device, system, or financial account. Contrast with sense 1 — this sense describes things that have been purposefully or habitually left unused, not things that are broken or malfunctioning.

常見錯誤

❌The elevator is inactive because it is broken.
✅The elevator is out of order because it is broken.
💡'inactive' implies deliberate non-use, not a fault or breakdown.

3. describes a soldier or officer who is not currently serving in active combat or

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a soldier or officer who is not currently serving in active combat or on regular military duty and is not required to report for daily service.

例句

After his injury, Sergeant Faisal was placed on inactive status for six months.

inactive status / inactive duty — military collocation

The base houses about two hundred inactive soldiers who are awaiting new assignments.

同義詞
  • non-active

    broader — can apply outside military contexts, though less common

  • off-duty

    not a synonym — 'off-duty' refers to a temporary break, not a formal status

反義詞
  • active

    specifically 'active duty' in military usage

用法筆記

Restricted to military contexts. Often appears in fixed phrases: 'inactive status,' 'inactive duty,' 'inactive reserve.' The opposite term is 'active duty.' Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense does not describe everyday life or objects.