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

The first movie, also written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, charged its way to $57 domestically, becoming the biggest live-action Japanese movie in North America, and $113 million globally. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

The streamer has officially ordered a live-action prequel series to its massive sci-fi hit (see announcement video below). — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026

Nobody Wants This has joined an elite group of Netflix live-action comedy series, which have run for four or more seasons as Erin Foster’s rom-com starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody has been picked up for a fourth season. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

And now, CoComelon is releasing the first musical album inspired by its live-action show, The Melon Patch. — Parents, 5 Nov. 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