direct action

noun

1. any action seeking to achieve an immediate or direct result, especially an action against an established authority or powerful institution, as a strike or picketing.

direct action

noun

1. action such as strikes or civil disobedience, employed by organized labour or other groups to obtain demands from an employer, government, etc

Other Words From

• direct actionist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of direct action¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Hamilton and Mire work with the Awood Center, which—since it is a worker center rather than a union—doesn’t go through NLRB elections but instead organizes through direct action.

From MIT Technology Review

It often involves direct action and is rooted in a desire for social transformation.

From Eater

It’s unclear whether the direct action of light could fully account for the success of Cook’s baking treatment.

From Time

Crew Dragon mostly works autonomously, so the crew members should have to take only a few direct actions on their own.

From MIT Technology Review

She also said she is committed to real and direct action, to bringing real change to the Central American Parliament.

From Washington Blade

Superintendent Smith, in fact, had fielded a steady stream of complaints about him that never resulted in any direct action.

From The Daily Beast

American airpower will be the centerpiece of U.S. direct action against the so-called Islamic State.

From The Daily Beast

Their message was serious, their activism was witty and fast, like their direct action antecedents, ACT UP!

From The Daily Beast

What about your policy of “direct action” in the form of bombing strategic targets within the U.S.?

From The Daily Beast

Such direct action can range from demonstrations to violence.

From The Daily Beast

There is another effect from hurricanes which is even more destructive to life than that caused by the direct action of the wind.

From Project Gutenberg

I think the American Federation of Labor uses the most direct action that any organization could use.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a direct action of the will in causing the pen, the hand, and the fore-arm to move over the paper.

From Project Gutenberg

Abstract terms, pressed by etymology, reveal their ancient roots still embedded in direct action.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be convenient to think of direct action as the inclusive term.

From Project Gutenberg