Meaning of action In English

• 0 the process of doing something, especially when dealing with a problem or difficulty:

  • This problem calls for swift/prompt action from the government.

  • [ + to infinitive ] Action to prevent the spread of the disease is high on the government's agenda.

  • We must take action (= do something) to deal with the problem before it spreads to other areas.

  • So what's the plan of action? (= What are we going to do?)

  • The complaints system swings into action (= starts to work) as soon as a claim is made.

  • The committee was spurred into action (= encouraged to do something) by the threat of government cuts.

• 1 something that you do:

  • She has to accept the consequences of her actions.

  • I asked him to explain his actions.

  • I'll say the words and you can mime the actions.

  • It only needs a small wrist action (= movement of the wrist) to start the process.

• 2 things that are happening, especially exciting or important things:

  • I like movies with a lot of action.

  • In her last novel, the action (= the main events) moves between Greece and southern Spain.

  • A journalist has to be where the action is.

• 3 the effect something has on another thing:

  • They recorded the action of the drug on the nervous system.

• 4 fighting in a war:

  • Her younger son was killed in action.

  • He was reported missing in action.

  • He saw action (= fought as a soldier) in the trenches.

• 5 the way something moves or works:

  • We studied the action of the digestive system.

  • The car has a very smooth braking action.

• 6 a legal process that is decided in a law court:

  • a libel action

  • She brought an action (for negligence) against the hospital.

  • A criminal action was brought against him.

  • The book was halted in South Africa by a threat of legal action.

• 7 to do something to deal with a particular problem or matter:

  • I'll just run through the minutes of the last meeting, raising those points that still have to be actioned.

• 8 the process of doing something, or something done, esp. for a particular purpose:

  • [ U ] Quick action in calling the fire department saved many lives.

  • [ C ] It was a reckless action which he later came to regret.

  • [ + to infinitive ] We want a leader who will take action to fix our problems.

  • [ U ] Financial advisers urged the city to take action (= do something) to deal with the fiscal crisis.

  • [ U ] Her younger son was killed in action.

• 9 the way something moves or works, or the effect it has on something else:

  • [ C ] The heart’s action in regulating blood flow is critically important.

• 10 a process in a court of law to correct a wrong by which a person or group claims to have been hurt:

  • [ C ] She brought an action against the hospital for negligence.

• 11 the process of doing something, especially in order to deal with a problem or difficult situation:

  • take action (to do sth) The report urged industrialised nations to take further action to cut their budget deficits.

  • action on sth Campaigners say more action is needed on climate change.

  • call/press for action Unions are pressing for action on the pay dispute.

  • decisive/drastic/prompt action

  • The committee was spurred into action by the threat of government cuts.

  • You need to clearly outline a specific course of action in your business plan.

• 12 something that you do, especially in order to deal with a problem or difficult situation:

  • Industry analysts said the company's actions cannot control market prices.

  • He said that employees must be held accountable for their actions.

• 13 important things that are happening in a market, etc.:

  • Fund managers let themselves be carried away by the favorable market action of the shares.

• 14 a legal process that is decided in a court of law:

  • civil/court/legal action He threatened legal action to recover the property.

  • bring an action against sb/sth The purchaser could have brought an action against the vendor under section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act.

• 15 to begin working to make an idea or a plan happen or be successful:

  • We need to put these plans into action in measurable ways, so that employees regain a sense of control over their lives.

• 16 a way of dealing with a problem or difficult situation, or achieving something:

  • The Board will devise an action plan to address the problems at the plant.

• 17 involvement in something successful that someone else has started:

  • It's one thing to be a staff attorney and quite another to be an equity partner getting a piece of the action.

• 18 to do something to deal with a particular task, problem, or plan:

  • Some of the conclusions and recommendations of the report can be actioned straight away.