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

While the live-action remake has generated considerable attention, one of the franchise’s most meaningful milestones arrived earlier this year with relatively little fanfare. — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Funding for now all comes from Promise; the projects do not need a ton of financing unless the project uses a hybrid model where some live-action is shot. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Of course, this isn’t the property’s first, er, stab at live-action success. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

Once upon a time, Disney’s live-action Moana movie seemed like the surest of box-office bets. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 14 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