Definitions for action
ˈæk ʃənac·tion

Princeton's WordNet(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. actionnoun

   something done (usually as opposed to something said)

   "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"

2. action, activity, activenessnoun

   the state of being active

   "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"

3. military action, actionnoun

   a military engagement

   "he saw action in Korea"

4. natural process, natural action, action, activitynoun

   a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

   "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"

5. actionnoun

   the series of events that form a plot

   "his novels always have a lot of action"

6. actionnoun

   the trait of being active and energetic and forceful

   "a man of action"

7. action, action mechanismnoun

   the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism

   "the piano had a very stiff action"

8. legal action, action, action at lawnoun

   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

9. actionnoun

   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 action of emancipating Southern slaves"

10. actionverb

    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"

11. action, sue, litigate, processverb

    institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against

    "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination"

12. carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfilverb

    put in effect

    "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. actionnoun

   Something done so as to accomplish a purpose.

2. actionnoun

   A way of motion or functioning.

   Knead bread with a rocking action.

3. actionnoun

   A fast-paced activity.

   an action movie

4. actionnoun

   A mechanism; a moving part or assembly.

   a rifle action

5. actionnoun

   The mechanism, that is the set of moving mechanical parts, of a keyboard instrument, like a piano, which transfers the motion of the key to the sound-making device.

6. actionnoun

   sexual intercourse.

   She gave him some action.

7. actionnoun

   The distance separating the strings and the fretboard on the guitar.

8. actionnoun

   Combat.

   He saw some action in the Korean War.

9. actionnoun

   A charge or other process in a law court (also called lawsuit and actio).

10. actionverb

    To act on a request etc, in order to put it into effect.

11. actionverb

    To initiate a legal action against someone.

12. actionnoun

    A homomorphism from a group to a group of automorphisms.

    One of the earliest uses of groups, according to lore, was the study of the action of uE00013481uE001 on the equilateral triangle.

13. actioninterjection

    Demanding or signifying the start of something, usually an act or scene of a theatric performance.

    The director yelled Action!' before the camera started rolling.

14. Etymology: From accion, from action, from actio, from actus, perfect passive participle of ago, + action suffix -io; see act.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Actionnoun

   Etymology: action, Fr. actio, Lat.

   1. The quality or state of acting, opposite to rest.

   O noble English, that could entertain
   With half their forces the full power of France;
   And let another half stand laughing by,
   All out of work, and cold for action. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

   2. An act or thing done; a deed.

   This action, I now go on,
   Is for my better grace. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.

   God never accepts a good inclination instead of a good action, where that action may be done; nay, so much the contrary, that, if a good inclination be not seconded by a good action, the want of that action is made so much the more criminal and inexcusable. Robert South, Sermons.

   3. Agency, operation.

   It is better therefore, that the earth should move about its own center, and make those useful vicissitudes of night and day, than expose always the same side to the action of the sun. Richard Bentley, Sermons.

   He has settled laws, and laid down rules, conformable to which natural bodies are governed in their actions upon one another. George Cheyne, Philosophical Principles.

   4. The series of events represented in a fable.

   This action should have three qualifications. First, it should be but one action; secondly, it should be an entire action; and, thirdly, it should be a great action. Joseph Addison, Spectat. №. 267.

   5. Gesticulation; the accordance of the motions of the body with the words spoken; a part of oratory.

   —— He that speaks doth gripe the hearer’s wrist,
   While he that hears makes fearful action
   With wrinkled brows. William Shakespeare, King John.

   Our oratours are observed to make use of less gesture or action than those of other countries. Joseph Addison, Spectat. №. 407.

   6. [In law.] It is used with the preposition against before the person, and for before the thing.Actions are personal, real, and mixt: action personal belongs to a man against another, by reason of any contract, offence, or cause, of like force with a contract or offence made or done by him or some other, for whose fact he is to answer. Action real is given to any man against another, that possesses the thing required or sued for in his own name, and no other man’s. Action mixt is that which lies as well against or for the thing which we seek, as against the person that hath it; called mixt, because it hath a mixt respect both to the thing and to the person. Action is divided into civil, penal, and mixt. Action civil is that which tends only to the recovery of that which is due to us; as, a sum of money formerly lent. Action penal is that which aims at some penalty or punishment in the party sued, be it corporal or pecuniary: as, in common law, the next friends of a man feloniously slain shall pursue the law against the murderer. Action mixt is that which seeks both the thing whereof we are deprived, and a penalty also for the unjust detaining of the same. Action upon the case, is an action given for redress of wrongs done without force against any man, by law not specially provided for. Action upon the statute, is an action brought against a man upon breach of a statute. John Cowell

   There was never man could have a juster action against filthy fortune than I, since all other things being granted me, her blindness is the only lett. Philip Sidney.

   For our reward then,
   First, all our debts are paid; dangers of law,
   Actions, decrees, judgments, against us quitted. Ben Jonson, Catiline.

   7. In the plural, in France, the same as stocks in England.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Actionnoun

   a process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action

2. Actionnoun

   an act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor

3. Actionnoun

   the event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events

4. Actionnoun

   movement; as, the horse has a spirited action

5. Actionnoun

   effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a gun

6. Actionnoun

   any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice

7. Actionnoun

   gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings

8. Actionnoun

   the attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted

9. Actionnoun

   a suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense

10. Actionnoun

    a right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim

11. Actionnoun

    a share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks

12. Actionnoun

    an engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; as, a general action, a partial action

13. Actionnoun

    the mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ACTION

   ACTION is a public bus service operating in Canberra, ACT, Australia. It is a division of the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate of the ACT Government. The Minister responsible for TAMS is Shane Rattenbury MLA and the Director of ACTION is James Roncon. Its name was derived as an acronym of Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network, but it is now officially known as ACTION. Other bus services in Canberra are operated by Deane's Transit Group and Royale Limousines. There are no other modes of public transport operating within the ACT.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Action

   ak′shun, n. a state of acting: activity in the abstract: a deed: operation: gesture: a battle: a lawsuit, or proceedings in a court: the movement of events in a drama, novel, &c.—adj. Ac′tionable, liable to a lawsuit.—n. Ac′tion-tak′ing (Shak.), resenting an injury by a lawsuit instead of fighting it out like a man of honour.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. action

   Synonymous with battle. Also a term in mechanics for the effort which one body exerts against another, or the effects resulting therefrom.--Action and reaction, the mutual, successive, contrary impulses of two bodies.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. action

   An engagement between two armies, or bodies of troops. The word is likewise used to signify some memorable act done by an officer, soldier, detachment, or party.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. action

   The process of to act or do

   They took action as it was vital to ensure the house was warm and cosy for the family.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 19, 2020  

2. ---

   action

   To act, do or contribute to a plan, project, purpose or task.

   They took action immediately to ensure that they had everything they needed for their family gathering.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 19, 2020  

Suggested Resources(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. action

   Song lyrics by action -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by action on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Challenge
   • Complete
   • Drive
   • Effect
   • Group Action
   • Mechanism
   • Military
   • Plot
   • Process
   • State

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'action' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #404

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'action' in Written Corpus Frequency: #904

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'action' in Nouns Frequency: #104

Anagrams for action »

1. atonic

2. cation

How to pronounce action?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say action in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of action in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of action in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of action in a Sentence

1. Marie Yovanovitch:

   Today, we see the State Department attacked and hollowed out from within. State Department leadership, with Congress, needs to take action now to defend this great institution, and its thousands of loyal and effective employees.

2. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book nine:

   The sinners sins against himself; the wrongdoer wrongs himself, becoming the worse by his own action.

3. Aristotle, Nicomachen Ethics (4th c. BC):

   In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.

4. Melinda Pierce:

   This false conspiracy theory, invented by the same deceitful front groups paid to do polluters' and big tobacco’s dirty work, has been repeatedly debunked over its nearly 10-year existence, the Sierra Club has no connections to Russia or China, and proudly fights for clean energy and climate action because this is what our planet requires, our families deserve, and what the overwhelming majority of Americans across the country demand.

5. Tony Kendrick:

   This is really good evidence to support a patient's own decisions -- in discussion with their doctor or other prescriber -- about whether they should continue antidepressants or not, both courses of action are reasonable.

Popularity rank by frequency of use