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 Clone Wars features several fan favorites, including Anakin’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, who wouldn’t appear in live-action until The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and finally her own series, Ahsoka.
—
Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Takata noted Japan’s domestic market faces challenges with animation comprising 80-90% of content, leaving limited space for live-action films.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
Danny Seagren, a Jim Henson puppeteer who played Big Bird on Sesame Street and portrayed the first live-action Spider-Man on The Electric Company, has died age 81.
—Peter White, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
Lee Sang-il’s Kokuho — a nearly three-hour period drama about the cloistered world of traditional kabuki theater — has defied all reasonable expectations to become Japan’s top-grossing domestic live-action film of all time.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live-action
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Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Takata noted Japan’s domestic market faces challenges with animation comprising 80-90% of content, leaving limited space for live-action films.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
Danny Seagren, a Jim Henson puppeteer who played Big Bird on Sesame Street and portrayed the first live-action Spider-Man on The Electric Company, has died age 81.
—Peter White, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025
Lee Sang-il’s Kokuho — a nearly three-hour period drama about the cloistered world of traditional kabuki theater — has defied all reasonable expectations to become Japan’s top-grossing domestic live-action film of all time.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live-action
Cite this Entry
“Live-action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live-action. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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