📒 the process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation
- The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive.
- to threaten/demand/call for action
- Firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading.
📒 a thing that somebody does
- Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions.
- They sought to justify their actions.
- Can you explain your actions?
📒 things that workers do, especially stopping work, to protest to their employers about something
- Workers voted in favour of strike action.
- They called off their action at 7.40 am after the meeting was arranged.
- Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed.
📒 a legal process to stop a person or company from doing something, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc.
- A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article.
- action against somebody/something He is considering taking legal action against the hospital.
- I considered taking legal action.
📒 fighting in a battle or war
- The possibility of taking military action has not been ruled out.
- I never saw action during the war.
- in action soldiers killed in action
📒 the events in a story, play, etc.
- The action takes place in France.
📒 exciting events
- I like films with plenty of action.
- New York is where the action is.
- If you want to know where all the action is around here, just ask Jo.
📒 the effect that something such as a chemical has on something
- Vitamin D can be made in the body by the action of sunlight on the skin.
- The action of the rushing water cleans the gully.
📒 the way a part of the body moves or functions
- a study of the action of the liver
📒 the mechanical parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts move
📒 what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
📒 if somebody/something is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them
- Just press the button to see your favourite character in action.
- I've yet to see all the players in action.
- I have not yet seen the machines in action.
📒 if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work
- The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis.
- We need to put these ideas into action.
📒 not able to work or be used because of injury or damage
- Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg.
- The photocopier is out of action today.
- She is out of action following an ankle injury.
📒 a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially one that makes money
- Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead.
📒 to suddenly start working or doing something
- ‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action.
- The town springs to life (= becomes busy) during the carnival.
📒 to start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy
- The ambulance crew swung into action to resuscitate the patient.
- The rescue operation swung into action immediately.
- The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported.
📒 to act in order to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation
- The pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision.