action
♦♦♦ ac|tion /'ækʃən/ (actions actioning actioned)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Action is doing something for a particular purpose.
The government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis...
2 [N-COUNT]
An action is something that you do on a particular occasion.
Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.
3 [N-COUNT]
To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. (LEGAL)
Two leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.
= suit, case
4 [N-SING] the N
The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. (INFORMAL)
Hollywood is where the action is now.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.
Leaders in America have generally supported military action...
13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
An action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An action hero is the main character in one of these films.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If you action something that needs to be done, you deal with it. (BUSINESS)
Documents can be actioned, or filed immediately.
8 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If someone or something is out of action, they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used.
He's been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury...
9 [PHRASE]
If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action, they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you put an idea or policy into action, you begin to use it or cause it to operate.
They have learned the lessons of business management theory, and put them into action.ac|tion re|play (action replays)
[N-COUNT]
An action replay is a repeated showing, usually in slow motion, of an event that has just been on television. (BRIT; in AM, use instant replay)af|firma|tive ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Affirmative action is the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them. (AM; in BRIT, use positive discrimination)class ac|tion (class actions)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A class action is a legal case brought by a group of people rather than an individual.de|layed ac|tion
[ADJ] ADJ n
A delayed action mechanism causes a delay on the device it is fitted to, so that it does not work as soon as you switch it on or operate it.
...a type of delayed action parachute.di|rect ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Direct action involves doing something such as going on strike or demonstrating in order to put pressure on an employer or government to do what you want, instead of trying to talk to them.in|dus|trial ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
If workers take industrial action, they join together and do something to show that they are unhappy with their pay or working conditions, for example refusing to work. (mainly BRIT)
Prison officers have decided to take industrial action.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Action is doing something for a particular purpose.
The government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis...
2 [N-COUNT]
An action is something that you do on a particular occasion.
Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.
3 [N-COUNT]
To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. (LEGAL)
Two leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.
= suit, case
4 [N-SING] the N
The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. (INFORMAL)
Hollywood is where the action is now.
5 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.
Leaders in America have generally supported military action...
13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
An action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An action hero is the main character in one of these films.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If you action something that needs to be done, you deal with it. (BUSINESS)
Documents can be actioned, or filed immediately.
8 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If someone or something is out of action, they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used.
He's been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury...
9 [PHRASE]
If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action, they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you put an idea or policy into action, you begin to use it or cause it to operate.
They have learned the lessons of business management theory, and put them into action.ac|tion re|play (action replays)
[N-COUNT]
An action replay is a repeated showing, usually in slow motion, of an event that has just been on television. (BRIT; in AM, use instant replay)af|firma|tive ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Affirmative action is the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them. (AM; in BRIT, use positive discrimination)class ac|tion (class actions)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A class action is a legal case brought by a group of people rather than an individual.de|layed ac|tion
[ADJ] ADJ n
A delayed action mechanism causes a delay on the device it is fitted to, so that it does not work as soon as you switch it on or operate it.
...a type of delayed action parachute.di|rect ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Direct action involves doing something such as going on strike or demonstrating in order to put pressure on an employer or government to do what you want, instead of trying to talk to them.in|dus|trial ac|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
If workers take industrial action, they join together and do something to show that they are unhappy with their pay or working conditions, for example refusing to work. (mainly BRIT)
Prison officers have decided to take industrial action.