(of a person or policy) controlling a situation by making things happen rather than waiting for things to happen and then reacting to them. Managers must be proactive in identifying and preventing potential problems. Want to learn more? Definition of proactive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Proactive means taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when it happens. Learn more about the meaning, usage and synonyms of proactive with Cambridge Dictionary. The meaning of PROACTIVE is acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes. How to use proactive in a sentence. Did you know? What does it mean to be "proactive"? Discover how taking initiative can transform challenges into opportunities in work, life, and relationships.