productive

/prəˈdʌktɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈdʌktɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /prə-ˈdək-tiv prō-/ (ame, mw)

productive — adjective

  • productivepositive
  • more productivecomparative
  • most productivesuperlative

1. producing or yielding a large amount of something, such as crops, goods, or work

1.形容詞B2
釋義

producing or yielding a large amount of something, such as crops, goods, or work results

例句

Mateo's farm is highly productive, supplying fresh vegetables to the whole town.

collocation: highly productive

The factory's most productive worker, Eitan, assembles fifty units each hour.

同義詞
  • fruitful

    more poetic and formal; often used for searches, collaborations, or efforts rather than physical output

  • prolific

    specifically for creative or artistic output; a prolific writer produces many books

  • fertile

    restricted to land or soil capable of producing abundant crops

反義詞

文法句型

productive + noun

be + productive

用法筆記

Often describes farms, land, factories, or workers that generate large amounts of output. Compare with EFFICIENT, which focuses on achieving results with minimal waste rather than sheer volume.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting was productive but we got nothing done.
✅The meeting was productive and we resolved all the issues.
💡'productive' always implies actual results, not just activity.
❌She is a productive artist who works very slowly on each piece.
✅She is a productive artist who completes many pieces each year.
💡'productive' refers to the quantity of output, not the amount of effort.

2. achieving good or useful results; effective and worth the time or effort investe

2.形容詞B2
釋義

achieving good or useful results; effective and worth the time or effort invested

例句

Padma found the training workshop productive and immediately applied the new methods.

predicative: find + object + productive

The two leaders held a productive discussion that resolved the long-standing conflict.

同義詞
  • effective

    focuses on achieving a desired goal; used for methods, treatments, or strategies rather than activities

  • constructive

    emphasises building or improving something; often used with criticism, advice, or feedback

  • fruitful

    slightly more formal; common for collaborations, searches, and discussions

  • worthwhile

    emphasises that the activity justified the time or cost spent

反義詞

文法句型

productive + noun

be + productive

用法筆記

Common in business, education, and self-development contexts. Describes activities, discussions, or periods that create useful outcomes. Unlike sense 1, this sense emphasises the quality of results rather than the quantity of output.

常見錯誤

❌Obi's productive conversation lasted three hours but went nowhere.
✅Obi's productive conversation led to a clear action plan.
💡'productive' requires that something useful resulted.

3. describing the skill of using language actively through speaking or writing, as

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describing the skill of using language actively through speaking or writing, as opposed to only understanding it when heard or read

例句

In language classes, productive skills like speaking require more practice than listening.

pairing: productive skills vs receptive skills

The exam tested the students' productive vocabulary by asking them to write short essays.

同義詞
  • expressive

    sometimes used interchangeably in linguistics, though less common

  • active

    describes language use that involves production rather than passive reception

反義詞
  • receptive

    describes the ability to understand language (listening and reading)

文法句型

productive + noun (skill, vocabulary, ability)

用法筆記

Typically paired with RECEPTIVE as an antonym. Receptive skills are listening and reading; productive skills are speaking and writing. This sense is almost always used attributively before nouns like skill, vocabulary, ability, or knowledge.

常見錯誤

❌I need to improve my productive English so I can read newspapers.
✅I need to improve my productive English so I can give presentations.
💡'productive' refers to speaking and writing, not reading.
❌She has good productive listening comprehension.
✅She has good receptive listening comprehension.
💡listening is a receptive skill, not a productive one.