Definition of action - WordReference.com Dictionary

WordReference.com English Dictionary

action:

in Spanish | in French | in Italian
in context | images

Listen:

US - UK

Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

action
A	noun
	1	action
			something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚action ╚choice; selection; option; pick ╚performance; execution; carrying out; carrying into action ╚arrival ╚play; swordplay ╚playing ╚interaction ╚course; course of action ╚res gestae ╚alienation ╚accomplishment; achievement ╚kindness; benignity ╚thing
	2	action
			the most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field; "the action is no longer in technology stocks but in municipal bonds"; "gawkers always try to get as close to the action as possible"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚work ╚action
	3	military action, action
			a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚group action ╚military action, action ╚war; warfare ╚sortie; sally ╚saber rattling; sabre rattling ╚resistance ╚police action ╚electronic warfare; EW ╚defense; defence; defensive measure ╚blockade; encirclement ╚battle; conflict; fight; engagement ╚amphibious landing
	4	legal action, action, action at law
			a judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚group action ╚due process; due process of law ╚proceeding; legal proceeding; proceedings ╚legal action, action, action at law ╚test case; test suit ╚prosecution; criminal prosecution ╚lis pendens ╚custody case ╚counterclaim ╚civil action ╚antitrust case
	5	action
			an act by a government body or supranational organization; "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"; "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"; "the Union actio
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚group action ╚action
	6	action, action mechanism
			the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action"
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚device ╚mechanism ╚action, action mechanism ╚pump action; slide action ╚piano action ╚movement ╚gunlock; firing mechanism
	7	action
			the trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚attribute ╚trait ╚drive ╚action
	8	action
			the series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚written communication; written language ╚writing; written material; piece of writing ╚literary composition; literary work ╚fiction ╚story ╚plot ╚action
	9	natural process, natural action, action, activity
			a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"
		Category Tree: phenomenon ╚process ╚natural process, natural action, action, activity ╚condensation ╚concretion ╚chromatography ╚chemical process; chemical change; chemical action ╚centrifugation ╚capture ╚capture ╚antiredeposition ╚aeration ╚adiabatic process ╚acidification ╚absorption ╚radiation
	10	action, activity, activeness
			the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"
		Category Tree: state ╚action, activity, activeness ╚overdrive ╚operation ╚eruption; eructation; extravasation ╚behavior; behaviour ╚busyness; hum ╚agency
B	verb
	1	carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfil
			put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation"
		Category Tree: change; alter; modify ╚end; terminate ╚complete; finish ╚carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfil ╚dispatch; discharge; complete ╚do; perform ╚consummate ╚consummate ╚run ╚get over
	2	action, sue, litigate, process
			institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against; "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination"
		Category Tree: move; displace ╚transfer ╚convey; transmit; communicate ╚communicate; pass on; pass; put across ╚request; bespeak; call for; quest ╚ask ╚request ╚invite; bid ╚challenge ╚action, sue, litigate, process ╚expedite

Look up "action" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "action" at dictionary.com

Forum discussions with the word(s) 'action' in the title:

Action project
action/acting
show them in action?
using "would" for action that has already happened
Meeting ON / FOR ?? action plan ON / FOR internal communication
Class-action lawsuit
Is it correct to put Ã© or ee at end of verb to indicate receiver of action
Action - happen?
take action
State or action verb?
Action words = verbs?
provided such action was consistent with laws of war such as proportionality and minimizing unintended harm to civilians.
on class-action lawsuits
Deliberate search for a plan of action
"Pre-emptive action constituting unilateralism"?
performance or action
natural behaviour or natural action
Action Request Escalated
Linking and Action Verbs
Appeal for action
What do you call this action?
class action status
take legislative action
behahavior/action
a(n) behavior, act, or action
take action
legal action
I want to cause action
spoon action
how to understand this sentence please?"Let's stop any action to create a new branch."
more...
For any questions about this word or definition:

Ask in the forums yourself.
Visit the English Only Forum.