Action

noun

'ækʃən

Noun

a military engagement
“he saw action in Korea”
the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism
“the piano had a very stiff action”
Type of:Mechanism
the state of being active
“he is out of action”
Similar:ActivenessActivity
Type of:State
a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
“the action of natural forces”
Similar:Activity
Type of:Process
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”
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”
Type of:Work
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
“there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions”
Type of:ActDeed
the series of events that form a plot
“his novels always have a lot of action”
Type of:Plot
the trait of being active and energetic and forceful
“a man of action”
Type of:Drive
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
Type of:ProceedingProceedings

institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
“She actioned the company for discrimination”
Similar:Litigate Process Sue
Type of:Challenge
put in effect
“He actioned the operation”
Similar:Accomplish ExecuteFulfilFulfill
Type of:EffectCompleteEffectuate

Peak usage: 1880s

Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer (1800–2019)