Productive

/prəˈdʌktɪv/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonQuality
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Capable of producing a great deal; achieving or providing good results.

/prəˈdʌktɪv/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Quality

Yielding or providing results, benefits, or profit.

The new software significantly increased the team's productivity.

💡 Simply: Imagine you’re building a Lego castle. Being 'productive' means you're building it quickly and getting a lot done. If you're making lots of progress, that’s being productive!

👶 For kids: When something is productive, it means it's making a lot of things or getting a lot done!

More Examples

2

She had a very productive morning and completed all her tasks.

3

Fertile soil is essential for a productive farm.

How It's Used

Business

"Companies strive to be as productive as possible to maximize profits."

Agriculture

"The farmers had a very productive harvest this year."

Personal Development

"She has a productive day working on many different projects."

2

Of or relating to the creation of goods or services.

/prəˈdʌktɪv/

adjectiveneutralmedium
Function

Relating to or involving the creation of something.

The company invested in productive equipment to improve its output.

💡 Simply: If something is 'productive', it means it is busy making things or doing things that get results.

👶 For kids: When something is productive, it's making things or getting things done.

More Examples

2

The country's productive industries are vital for economic growth.

3

We need to find productive solutions to address the challenges.

How It's Used

Economics

"The productive capacity of the country is increasing."

Industry

"The new factory focused on productive manufacturing techniques."

Tip:Think of the word 'produce'. Productive is all about what is made.

Idioms & expressions

productive time

A period of time during which someone is working effectively and achieving results.

"To maximize productivity, it is important to set aside 'productive time' when you can focus on important tasks without distractions."

productive capacity

The maximum amount of goods or services a business or economy can produce.

"The increase in manufacturing facilities improved their country's productive capacity."

From Late Latin *productivus*, from Latin *producere* ("to lead forth, bring forth, produce"). The word has been used in English since the 17th century, initially relating to producing crops or goods.

The word's use has expanded over time. Initially it focused on agricultural output, and it is now widely applied to many fields.

Memory tip

Think of a factory that produces lots of goods quickly. Productive people and things do the same with their work or actions.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to produce, bring forth"

highly productiveproductive dayproductive capacityproductive effortsproductive work

Common misspellings

producttiveprodutiveproducive

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written