actionnoun
uk/ˈæk.ʃən/us/ˈæk.ʃən/action noun (DOING SOMETHING)
B2 [ U ] the process of doing something, especially when dealing with a problem or difficulty:
More examples
- The government is supporting military action.
- The richer countries of the world must take action to help the poorer countries.
- I hope these arguments have convinced you of the need for action.
- The army are said to be ready for action.
- It is clear that most women supported this action, from the results of the opinion poll.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Acting and acts
- (your) every move idiom
- -ation
- act/do sth on your own responsibility idiom
- activity
- agency
- ant
- be up to sth idiom
- feel
- gambit
- get around to sth
- give yourself over/up to sth
- go about sth
- go about your business idiom
- go through with sth
- hand
- manoeuvring
- money
- talk
- talk the talk idiom
- up to
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action noun (SOMETHING DONE)
B2 [ C ] something that you do:
C2 [ C ] a physical movement:
More examples
- She wrote an angry letter to the paper complaining about the council's action.
- The four soldiers received medals for their brave actions.
- The defendant was depressed and therefore not fully responsible for her own actions.
- We will not allow the violent actions of terrorists to change our way of life.
- I'm sorry I punched him, it was a reflex action.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Acting and acts
- (your) every move idiom
- -ation
- act/do sth on your own responsibility idiom
- activity
- agency
- ant
- be up to sth idiom
- feel
- gambit
- get around to sth
- give yourself over/up to sth
- go about sth
- go about your business idiom
- go through with sth
- hand
- manoeuvring
- money
- talk
- talk the talk idiom
- up to
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action noun (ACTIVITY)
B1 [ U ] things that are happening, especially exciting or important things:
at the place where something important or interesting is happening:
More examples
- I like a lowbrow action movie once in a while.
- Her latest film is the staple offering of action and comedy which we have come to expect.
- It's a typical action film with plenty of spectacular stunts.
- At various points in the play, the action tips over from comedy into farce.
- He landed a part in a multi-million pound action thriller and made the Hollywood A list.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Events and occurrences
- -athon
- a close call idiom
- a close/near thing idiom
- all-nighter
- back story
- be (all) part of life's rich tapestry/pageant idiom
- call
- development
- event
- goings-on
- happening
- incident
- jamboree
- life event
- past
- spree
- synchronicity
- thing
- to-ing and fro-ing
- turn of events
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
action noun (EFFECT)
[ S ] the effect something has on another thing:
More examples
- Accumulations of sand can be formed by the action of waves on coastal beaches.
- The action of market forces means that the cost of something rises if demand for it rises and the amount available remains constant.
- His many years of research made him an expert on the action of snake venom.
- The distinctive landscape has been formed by the action of running water on the limestone.
- The project will study the action of various drugs on the human body.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Outcomes and consequences
- -ment
- aftereffect
- aftermath
- bang
- be a monument to sth idiom
- bed
- bite
- first fruit
- fruit
- function
- impact
- knock-on effect
- monument
- more bang for your buck(s) idiom
- sequel
- spillover
- spin-off
- the bitter fruits of sth idiom
- the upshot
- trickle-down
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action noun (WAR)
C2 [ U ] fighting in a war:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fighting
- a fight to the finish idiom
- bloodless
- bloodletting
- brawl
- combat
- counterinsurgency
- disturbance
- dust-up
- engagement
- fighting
- fistfight
- fisticuffs
- fray
- he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day idiom
- hotspot
- last
- pick
- shoot
- slug
- slug it out idiom
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action noun (WAY THING WORKS)
C2 [ U or C ] the way something moves or works:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Machines - Functioning
- asthmatically
- commission
- faulty
- fire sth up
- function as sth/sb
- functionally
- operation
- operational
- operative
- order
- pack up
- peg
- perform
- play up
- right
- roll
- start
- start (sth) up
- torpor
- work
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action noun (LEGAL PROCESS)
C1 [ C or U ] specialized law a legal process that is decided in a law court:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Court cases, orders & decisions
- actionable
- administer
- admissible
- affidavit
- affiliation order
- bail
- bale
- court martial
- inadmissible
- injunction
- judgment
- judicature
- judicial
- plea
- remedy
- retrial
- Rex
- ruling
- separation
- sequester
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Idiom(s)
actionverb [ T usually passive ]
uk/ˈæk.ʃən/us/ˈæk.ʃən/to do something to deal with a particular problem or matter:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Dealing with things or people
- attend to sb/sth
- beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
- come up against sth
- come/get to grips with sth idiom
- confront
- cut
- firefight
- firefighting
- get sth in
- inherit
- jump-start
- overcome
- reckon
- reckon with sb/sth
- see about sth
- see to sth/sb
- set about sth
- square
- turn
- weather
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