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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Inactive: Meaning, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：lazy (inactive)

inactive 🔊

/ɪnˈæktɪv/

adj.

not moving much or not doing much; lazy or not energetic.

Inactive person lying lazily on sofa looking at phone

lazy 🔊

➕

/ˈleɪzi/

adj.

Describes a person or animal that is not physically active, often preferring to rest or avoid exertion.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

in- (not) + active (acting) = not active or not moving.

💡 Mnemonic

Inactive = In (not) + Active (moving) → not moving, like a sleeping bear.

📖 Example

After retiring, my grandfather became quite inactive, spending most of his days reading in his favorite armchair. 🔊 After retiring, my grandfather became quite inactive, spending most of his days reading in his favorite armchair.

🔗 Collocations

inactive lifestyle – a way of living that involves very little physical activity

inactive person – someone who does not exercise or move much

become inactive – to stop being physically active

🔄 Synonyms

idle (adj.) – not working or active; doing nothing

lazy (adj.) – unwilling to work or use energy

sluggish (adj.) – slow-moving or inactive

🚫 Antonyms

active (adj.) – engaging in physical movement or exercise

energetic (adj.) – showing great activity or vitality

🌱 Derivatives

inactivity (n.) – the state of being inactive

inactively (adv.) – in an inactive manner

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'inactivus' (in- 'not' + activus 'active'). In modern English, it is frequently used for accounts, subscriptions, or devices that are no longer in use.

Meaning 2：dormant (inactive)

inactive 🔊

/ɪnˈæktɪv/

adj.

not operating or being used at the present time; not in use.

Inactive old dusty mobile phone lying unused in drawer

dormant 🔊

➕

/ˈdɔːrmənt/

adj.

Refers to something, especially an account, device, or system, that is not currently operating or being used, often temporarily.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I found my old social media account, but it has been inactive for over five years. 🔊 I found my old social media account, but it has been inactive for over five years.

🔗 Collocations

inactive account – an account that has not been used for a long time

inactive device – a piece of equipment that is not turned on or in use

inactive status – the condition of being not active, often in a system

🔄 Synonyms

dormant (adj.) – temporarily inactive or inoperative

unused (adj.) – not being used

idle (adj.) – not in operation; not being used

🚫 Antonyms

active (adj.) – currently operating or being used

operational (adj.) – in working order or function

🌱 Derivatives

inactivity (n.) – the state of being inactive

inactively (adv.) – in an inactive manner