Definition of actionnext
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2
as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the mystery writer displays a sure hand in managing the novel's complicated but never incoherent action

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of action Showing their belief in the property, Murphy and Montford worked together under their genre and action-focused Angry Films banner for 16 years to get this project developed. William Earl, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 Sporting begins Coachella Valley Invitational action on Saturday against Minnesota United. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026 The far higher leverage, action-spurring pressure point on March 6, however, is still the main event. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Exponential growth is on display here following Palantir’s intentional actions on how to go to market, develop products, and be an enabler of AI decision-making, BofA wrote. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • The brain is also far more adept at handling things like ambiguity, subtlety, and nuance.
    Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Perhaps, in the distant past, things once were very different on Venus, and perhaps there’s a rich history of ancient, early life on that planet.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The unabashed silliness of the plot does little to dilute the entertainment value of director Juan Piquer Simón's sleazy, cheesy fever dream.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
  • For many viewers, the plot lines feel human, flawed and real.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The lawsuit claims Saint Ann’s leadership was alerted twice in early 2024 that explicit images of young girls were circulating among students on Snapchat but failed to notify police or intervene beyond internal meetings.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Such lawsuits are difficult to win, because unlike state or local officials, federal officials are protected by immunity in many cases.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That shooting prowess carried over into Friday night’s game, as Grand Canyon began the game shooting 10-for-13 from the field, including a perfect 5-for-5 start from beyond the arc.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
  • While this idea sparked an entire field of research, experiments were long limited by the difficulty of controlling and measuring objects just a nanometer across.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The findings also support earlier work linking Jupiter’s atmospheric behavior to its deep interior structure.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The model’s core weights remain untouched, but the system can still adapt its behavior based on the task at hand.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As humanity moves from brief space missions toward longer stays — driven by commercial ambitions for moon bases and eventual Martian settlements — scientists are beginning to confront how the conditions of space may affect human reproduction.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • None of these quite conveys his big ambitions except the Noguchi Museum itself.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Neem oil affects insects' feeding abilities and acts as a repellent.
    Jon VanZile, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The new Fed chief faces a tough balancing act on the dual mandate of fostering employment and keeping prices stable.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Beyond the famous spaceships, X-Wing and TIE Fighter also brought compelling stories set in the Star Wars universe, alongside technical advancements like fully 3D graphics in place of the bitmap sprites of previous titles.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Ludwig wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news on Thursday.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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