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[ak-shuh n] /ˈæk ʃən/

noun
1.
the process or state of acting or of being active:
The machine is not in action now.
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.
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.
13.
Literature. the main subject or story, as distinguished from an incidental episode.
14.
Theater.

15.
the gestures or deportment of an actor or speaker.
16.
Fine Arts. the appearance of animation, movement, or emotion given to figures by their attitude, position, or expression.
17.
Law.

18.
Slang.

19.
Ecclesiastical.

adjective
20.
characterized by brisk or dynamic action:
an action car; an action melodrama.
Idioms
21.
in action,

22.
out of action, removed from action, as by sudden disability:
The star halfback is out of action with a bad knee.
23.
piece of the action, Informal. a share of the proceeds or profits:
Cut me in for a piece of the action.
24.
take 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 pl) conduct or behaviour
6.
(law)

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)

14.
the events that form the plot of a story, film, play, or other composition
15.
(military)

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.
(Brit) 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 (transitive)
20.
to put into effect; take action concerning: matters decided at the meeting cannot be actioned until the following week
interjection
21.
a command given by a film director to indicate that filming is to begin See also cue1 (sense 8)
n.

mid-14c., “cause or grounds for a lawsuit,” from Anglo-French accioun, Old French accion (12c.) “action, lawsuit, case,” from Latin actionem (nominative actio) “a putting in motion; a performing, doing,” noun of action from past participle stem of agere “to do” (see act (v.)). Sense of “something done, an act, deed” is late 14c. Meaning “fighting” is from c.1600. As a film director’s command, it is attested from 1923. Meaning “excitement” is recorded from 1968. Phrase actions speak louder than words is attested from 1731.

action ac·tion (āk’shən)
n.

noun

Related Terms

a piece of the action, where the action is
American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods
In addition to the idioms beginning with action
,