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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

interactive

ihn-tuh-RAK-tihv

Interactive (adj) means allowing back-and-forth engagement between a user and a system, or between people. Example: “The museum has an interactive exhibit where kids can touch the models.”

adj
1
Allowing back-and-forth engagement between a user and a system, or between people.
"The museum has an interactive exhibit where kids can touch the models."
"The app offers an interactive tutorial for new users."

How to Use Interactive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishResponds to input — you can engage with it and it engages back.

Common pairings
interactive display interactive session interactive map

Word Forms

more interactive comparative, interactives plural, most interactive superlative

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Test yourself on “interactive” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum has an _____ exhibit where kids can touch the models.

Related Words

Rhymes for interactive

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “interactive” mean?

The word “interactive” means allowing back-and-forth engagement between a user and a system, or between people. In plain terms, responds to input — you can engage with it and it engages back.

How do you pronounce “interactive”?

“Interactive” is pronounced ihn-tuh-RAK-tihv (/ˌɪn.tɚˈæk.tɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “interactive” in a sentence?

Here is “interactive” used in a sentence: “The museum has an interactive exhibit where kids can touch the models.”

What part of speech is “interactive”?

“Interactive” is an adjective.

Is “interactive” a common word?

“Interactive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between interactive and passive?

Passive describes receiving something without responding, like watching television. Interactive describes back-and-forth engagement: the user acts and the system or other person responds, as in a video game, a quiz, or a live discussion.

What is the noun form of interactive?

There are two related nouns. Interactivity is the quality of being interactive, used especially about technology ("the app's interactivity"), while interaction is the back-and-forth exchange itself ("interaction between users"). Choose based on whether you mean the property or the activity.

Can you describe a person as interactive?

Interactive normally describes systems, media, or activities rather than people, so "an interactive workshop" is natural but "he is very interactive" sounds slightly off in careful writing. For a person, words like engaging, sociable, or responsive are the usual choices.

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