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
Filled with vibrant illustrations, this is a great book for kids to read alongside seeing The Little Mermaid live-action film in 2023.
—
Jennifer Vassel, Parents, 27 Nov. 2023
Led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the live-action adaptation of the titular Mattel dolls has taken Hollywood by storm, becoming 2023’s biggest box office success and distributor Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Amazon released the seven-episode first season of the live-action series revival the following year.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2023
The uneven performance of Lucasfilm and Disney’s animation and live-action releases have also raised worries.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Grande plays Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming live-action film adaptation of the Broadway show Wicked, which will be split into two parts.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023
Currently, Mattel Television Studios produces animated and live-action series and specials based on its popular IP including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels, Fireman Sam, Polly Pocket, Barney, Masters of the Universe, Monster High and Pictionary.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Its mash-up of genre and tone, and its ability to make absurd comic book imagery work in live-action, has earned it an ever-increasing cult following.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
The live-action reimagining of Moana was first revealed to be in the works when Johnson announced the upcoming project during Disney’s 2023 shareholder meeting in April.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023
See More
Jennifer Vassel, Parents, 27 Nov. 2023
Led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the live-action adaptation of the titular Mattel dolls has taken Hollywood by storm, becoming 2023’s biggest box office success and distributor Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Amazon released the seven-episode first season of the live-action series revival the following year.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 26 Nov. 2023
The uneven performance of Lucasfilm and Disney’s animation and live-action releases have also raised worries.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Grande plays Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming live-action film adaptation of the Broadway show Wicked, which will be split into two parts.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023
Currently, Mattel Television Studios produces animated and live-action series and specials based on its popular IP including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels, Fireman Sam, Polly Pocket, Barney, Masters of the Universe, Monster High and Pictionary.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Its mash-up of genre and tone, and its ability to make absurd comic book imagery work in live-action, has earned it an ever-increasing cult following.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
The live-action reimagining of Moana was first revealed to be in the works when Johnson announced the upcoming project during Disney’s 2023 shareholder meeting in April.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'live-action.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near live-action
Cite this Entry
“Live-action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live-action. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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