direct action

noun

: action that seeks to achieve an end directly and by the most immediately effective means (such as a boycott or strike)

Examples of direct action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who are exasperated about the decline of their club want more direct action for change, more protest and insurrection. —Rob Tanner, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

The trans rights music festival takes place at the Black Caton May 30 and 31, and all proceeds go to Gender Liberation Movement to help fund future rallies, demonstrations, and direct actions in protest of anti-trans policymaking. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2025

Rustin was a trusted advisor and mentor to King, helping to refine King’s understanding of nonviolent direct action and introducing him to Gandhian philosophy. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

The venture, which Willis launched with Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who last year became the first trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, supplements Trans Day of Visibility with direct action and political education. —Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for direct action

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

Legal Definition

direct action

noun

1

: an action in which the plaintiff sues a person's insurer without first obtaining a judgment against the insured or joining the insured

2

: a suit by a shareholder for an injury to himself or herself independent from any injury to the corporation

called also individual action

compare derivative action