adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:P R AH0 D AH1 K T IH0 V L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R OW0 D AH1 K T IH0 V L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 3:P ER0 D AH1 K T IH0 V L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a productive manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Improvements may easily be imagined which would annihilate vast portions of the productively invested wealth of individuals; such (e. g.) as a mechanical invention that superseded railways in England, or a development of trade that rendered English wheatgrowing unprofitable: and economic changes of this kind, though smaller in degree, are continually occurring.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
in a productive way
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they worked together productively for two years
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fruitfully, profitably
Antonyms: unproductively
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Latin prō- Proto-Indo-European *dewk- Proto-Indo-European *déwkti Proto-Italic *doukō Latin dūcō Latin prōdūcō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Late Latin prōductīvusbor. English productive Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English productively From productive + -ly.
