Definition of actionnext
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as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the mystery writer displays a sure hand in managing the novel's complicated but never incoherent action

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of action Mentee’s progress in vision-language-action models, large-scale simulation, and advanced Sim2Real transfer directly complements Mobileye’s autonomy platform, improving generalization, accelerating development, and enabling faster adaptation to new environments. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026 Lorch died in 2012, but his actions, and how much, if any, responsibility the venerable institution should take for them, will be at issue in the case. Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026 Cooper has occasionally spoken about his time in Alaska throughout the series, including mention of his temperamental T-45d power armor, a flawed early design that preceded the T-60 (worn by Max’s West Coast Brotherhood in the Fallout show) and the T-51b (yet to be seen in live action). Jack King, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026 Venus fuses with combative Mars in your 3rd House of Communication, mixing tenderness with intensity and pushing for words that match actions. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • And since going downstream didn’t seem feasible, the best thing was to go upstream.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Going just 6 for 15 in the first two quarters, Maye was still able to make things happen in open two quarters with five runs for 55 yards.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The two plots of land up for rezoning are near Anglin Circle and Enon Avenue.
    Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
  • People are also pointing out a few plot points that aren’t resolved.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The township is arguing that state law regarding government employee protections against lawsuits conflicts with federal court rulings.
    Laura A. Bischoff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The lawsuit further alleges she was served alcohol despite being underage.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Coming off two straight nine-win seasons, Dykes has seen enough confirmation on the field that TCU has plenty of talent already inside the building; most of it just needs to continue to develop.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Borregales banged home a 35-yard field to give the home team a 6-3 lead heading into halftime.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Rather than focusing only on crash performance, safety systems now need to adjust dynamically to changing vehicle states and user behavior.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The vehicle, now confirmed as the Kosmera Nebula 1, signals the appliance maker’s serious ambitions beyond household tech and into high-end mobility.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Perhaps no one understands the ambition of a coach who reached this NFL peak after a steep climb than a West Virginia kid who arrived as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The prosecutor's office said a 16-year-old boy from Sayreville was arrested and charged with acts of juvenile delinquency which if committed by an adult would constitute murder, weapons charges and armed riot.
    Katie Houlis, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
  • And when unlawful acts are committed, hold individuals accountable.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This single-story home boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and two baths.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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