WordWeb Online

1. Something done (usually as opposed to something said)
   "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
    
2. The state of being active
   "he is out of action";
   - activity, activeness
    
3. (military) a military engagement
   "he saw action in Korea";
   - military action
    
4. A process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
   "the action of natural forces"; "the natural action of natural forces";
   - natural process, natural action, activity
    
5. The series of events that form a plot
   "his novels always have a lot of action"
    
6. The trait of being active and energetic and forceful
   "a man of action"
    
7. The operating part that transmits power to a mechanism
   "the piano had a very stiff action";
   - action mechanism
    
8. (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
   - legal action, action at law
    
9. 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. 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. In firearms terminology, the mechanism that handles the ammunition (loads, locks, fires, and extracts the cartridges).
    "Actions can be categorized in several ways, including single action versus double action, break action versus bolt action, and others."

1. Institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
   "She actioned the company for discrimination";
   - sue, litigate, process
    
2. Cause to happen; complete successfully
   "He actioned the operation";
   - carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, fulfill [N. Amer], fulfil [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: actioned, actioning, actions

See also: active

Type of: act, challenge, complete, deed, drive, effect, effectuate, finish, group action, human action, human activity, legal proceeding, mechanism, physical process, plot, proceeding, proceedings, process, set up, state, work

Antonym: inactiveness

Part of: gun, keyboard

Encyclopedia: Action