Action - Definition

n 1: something done (usually as opposed to something said);
"there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
2: the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is
out of action" [syn: action, activity, activeness]
[ant: inaction, inactiveness, inactivity]
3: a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" [syn:
military action, action]
4: a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by
the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces";
"volcanic activity" [syn: natural process, natural
action, 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" [syn: action, action
mechanism]
8: 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 [syn:
legal action, 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"
v 1: institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against;
"He was warned that the district attorney would process
him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination" [syn:
action, sue, litigate, process]
2: put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of
the people"; "He actioned the operation" [syn: carry
through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action,
fulfill, fulfil]