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 voice of popular cat character Princess Donut in Peacock’s live-action adaptation of Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl has been found. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 July 2026

The author behind the runaway literary sensation revealed the first actor joining the cast of the upcoming live-action TV series coming to NBC’s Peacock streaming service. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026

Jeff Hays, the narrator and producer of the DCC audiobooks, will voice the character of Princess Donut in the live-action series. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026

The Universal Pictures film also outperformed studio expectations of a $117-million domestic premiere and set a record for the highest-grossing opening weekend for a live-action or R-rated film this year. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 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