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

Rudd is the female lead in Netflix’s record-breaking live-action adaptation of One Piece. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026

The plot of the live-action video game adaptation, which wrapped production in April, remains under wraps, as does Peckham’s role. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Selick’s fellow peers in stop-motion animation, Chilean directors Cristobal León and Joaquín Cociña, pulled off a similar feat with their first proper foray into live-action filmmaking. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Funk is currently working on two other feature films, both of which will involve stop-motion and live-action. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 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