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: activity, activeness] [ant: inaction, inaction, inaction]

3: 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 at law]

4: 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"

5: a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" [syn: military action]

6: 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, activity]

7: the series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action"

8: the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action" [syn: action mechanism]

9: the trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action"

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: 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, fulfill, fulfil]

Adjacent words: actinopod | Actinopoda | actinotherapy | Actinozoa | actinozoa | actinozoa | actinozoan | action | action at law | action mechanism | action officer | action painting | action plant | action potential | action replay | action spectrum