action

¹

[ ak-shuhn ]

noun

1. the process or state of acting or of being active:

   The machine is not in action now.

   Synonyms: operation, movement

   Antonyms: inactivity, rest

2. something done or performed; act; deed.
3. an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity:

   a crisis that demands action instead of debate; hoping for constructive action by the landlord.

4. actions, habitual or usual acts; conduct:

   He is responsible for his actions.

   Synonyms: behavior

5. energetic activity:

   a man of action.

6. an exertion of power or force:

   the action of wind upon a ship's sails.

7. effect or influence:

   the action of morphine.

8. Physiology. a change in organs, tissues, or cells leading to performance of a function, as in muscular contraction.
9. way or manner of moving:

   the action of a machine or of a horse.

10. the mechanism by which something is operated, as that of a gun or a piano.
11. a military encounter or engagement; battle, skirmish, or the like.
12. actual engagement in fighting an enemy; military or naval combat:

    He saw action in Vietnam.

    Synonyms: skirmish, fight, encounter, brush

13. Literature. the main subject or story, as distinguished from an incidental episode.
14. Theater.
    1. an event or series of events that form part of a dramatic plot:

       the action of a scene.

    2. one of the three unities. Compare unity ( def 8 ).
15. the gestures or deportment of an actor or speaker.

    Synonyms: plot

16. Fine Arts. the appearance of animation, movement, or emotion given to figures by their attitude, position, or expression.
17. Law.
    1. a proceeding instituted by one party against another.
    2. the right of bringing it.
18. Slang.
    1. interesting or exciting activity, often of an illicit nature:

       He gave us some tips on where the action was.

    2. gambling or the excitement of gambling:

       The casino usually offers plenty of action.

    3. money bet in gambling, especially illegally.
19. Ecclesiastical.
    1. a religious ceremony, especially a Eucharistic service.
    2. the canon of the Mass.
    3. those parts of a service of worship in which the congregation participates.

adjective

1. characterized by brisk or dynamic action:

   an action car; an action melodrama.

ACTION

²

[ ak-shuhn ]

noun

, U.S. Government.

1. an independent agency created in 1971 to administer domestic volunteer programs.

action

/ ˈækʃən /

noun

1. the state or process of doing something or being active; operation
2. something done, such as an act or deed
3. movement or posture during some physical activity
4. activity, force, or energy

   a man of action

5. usually plural conduct or behaviour
6. law
   1. a legal proceeding brought by one party against another, seeking redress of a wrong or recovery of what is due; lawsuit
   2. the right to bring such a proceeding
7. the operating mechanism, esp in a piano, gun, watch, etc
8. (of a guitar) the distance between the strings and the fingerboard
9. (of keyboard instruments) the sensitivity of the keys to touch
10. the force applied to a body

    the reaction is equal and opposite to the action

11. the way in which something operates or works
12. out of action
    not functioning
13. physics
    1. a property of a system expressed as twice the mean kinetic energy of the system over a given time interval multiplied by the time interval
    2. the product of work or energy and time, usually expressed in joule seconds

       Planck's constant of action

14. the events that form the plot of a story, film, play, or other composition
15. military
    1. a minor engagement
    2. fighting at sea or on land

       he saw action in the war

16. philosophy behaviour which is voluntary and explicable in terms of the agent's reasons, as contrasted with that which is coerced or determined causally
17. short for industrial action
18. informal.
    the profits of an enterprise or transaction (esp in the phrase a piece of the action )
19. slang.
    the main activity, esp social activity

verb

1. to put into effect; take action concerning

   matters decided at the meeting cannot be actioned until the following week

interjection

1. a command given by a film director to indicate that filming is to begin See also cue 1

Other Words From

• action·less adjective
• non·action noun
• pre·action noun
• pro·action adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of action¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin āctiōn- (stem of āctiō ), equivalent to āct(us) (past participle) + -iōn- replacing Middle English accioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin ; act, -ion

Origin of action²

Named by analogy with the acronymic names of other agencies, but itself not an acronym

Word History and Origins

Origin of action¹

C14: accioun, ultimately from Latin āctiōn-, stem of āctiō, from agere to do, act

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in action,
   1. performing or taking part in a characteristic act:

      The school baseball team is in action tonight.

   2. working; functioning:

      His rescuing the child was bravery in action.

2. out of action, removed from action, as by sudden disability:

   The star halfback is out of action with a bad knee.

3. piece of the action, Informal. a share of the proceeds or profits:

   Cut me in for a piece of the action.

4. take action,
   1. to start doing something:

      As soon as we get his decision, we'll take action.

   2. to start a legal procedure.

More idioms and phrases containing action

• all talk and no action
• piece of the action
• swing into action

Synonym Study

Action, act, deed mean something done. Action applies especially to the doing, act to the result of the doing. An action usually lasts through some time and consists of more than one act: to take action on a petition. An act is single: an act of kindness. Deed emphasizes the finished or completed quality of an act; it may imply an act of some note, good or bad: an irrevocable deed; a deed of daring. See battle ¹.

Example Sentences

In his message to staff, he said the university’s “outgoings were consistently higher than its income,” adding it would need to take a “series of actions” in order to redress the balance.

From BBC

Republican “members of Congress are willing to defend or ignore the president’s actions simply because he is their party leader.”

From Salon

The 27-year-old will not return to domestic action until 26 December, missing Premier League matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, among others, plus Spurs' League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

From BBC

After starting with a tricky Six Nations in 2023, which featured only one win and the threat of strike action against England over contract issues, Gatland steadied the ship for the World Cup.

From BBC

The Senate's censure, which passed 46-12, described Thorpe's actions as "disrespectful and disruptive" and said they should disqualify her from representing the chamber as a member of any delegation.

From BBC

Related Words

• activity
• deal
• force
• life
• movement
• operation
• plan
• process
• reaction
• response