live-action

adjective

live-ac·​tion ˈlīv-ˈak-shən 

variants or less commonly live action

1

: of, relating to, or featuring cinematography that is not produced by animation

a live-action film

2

: done or performed live and usually in person

a live-action performance

live-action role-playing games

Examples of live-action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Human roles will be filmed conventionally, while the dogs and toddler will be created through an approach that brings together live-action performance, traditional filmmaking techniques, and emerging AI tools. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026

Kyriana Kratter plays Lev in the live-action series and Abby is played by Kaitlyn Dever. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026

While plot details are being kept in the fuselage, it is known that Berger and Rivett brought the concept to executives, who then enlisted Patrick Aison, known for his work on the recent live-action Predator movies, to write the script. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Today, the Resident Evil franchise holds the record for the most live-action films based on a video-game series. — Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for live-action

• benefaction
• counteraction
• interaction
• liquefaction
• putrefaction
• rarefaction
• satisfaction
• stupefaction
• tumefaction
• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction

Kids Definition

live-action

adjective

live-ac·​tion ˈlīv-ˈak-shən 

1

: of, relating to, or featuring cinematography that is not produced by animation

2

: done or performed live and usually in person