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 The White House interspersed video clips of its strikes in Iran with imagery from Nintendo’s Wii Sports in a post on March 12, and cut footage of the strikes with clips from various action movies and TV shows on March 5. Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026 Viewing the Guggenheim film means returning to a time when a Ted Talk could be cinema, when a crisis could be apolitical and, perhaps most jarringly, when an earnest plea could turn into meaningful action. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026 The company said it's encouraged by the settlement, is committed to transparency, and had already taken corrective actions, including appointing a new leader of New York operations. Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 From guidance to action What that guidance looks like in practice is still evolving. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • Putting aside the issue of Ukraine and the hypocrisy there, is this posture an ideological thing or about self-interest?
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
  • So that was the same thing with Maura.
    Emily Longeretta, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Their murderous plot is foiled when two escaped prisoners and a guard crash the weekend.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
  • There’s reportedly some filming in Paris, but most of the plot is allegedly set in the resorts.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Their meteoric rise in just the last year is deeply troubling, and state Attorney General Nick Brown is right to have filed a recent lawsuit to stop Kalshi, one of the largest markets, from operating in Washington state.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Jada Pinkett Smith is seeking $49,000 in legal fees from her husband’s former best friend of 40 years after winning dismissal of his $3 million lawsuit.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Johnson and McCollum combined for 31 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field after McCollum scored 32 points on his own in Game 2.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • He was surrounded by numerous family and Braves alumni during the ceremony, which was relocated from the field to the Milner Technology Conference Center due to rain.
    Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Mavromatis’s filing is the first to allege a culture of sexism at Beast Industries, but there have been other claims of abusive workplace behavior.
    Irin Carmon, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The image captures a moment of pure, unguarded wildlife behavior, a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life in one of the planet's most extreme environments.
    PhotoVogue, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Set in the late 1990s, the pic based on Gavin Bain’s autobiography of the same name (later reissued as Straight Outta Scotland) follows Bain and Billy Boyd, aspiring musicians whose ambitions were dismissed because of their Scottish accents.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Four years have passed since Villa first outlined their ambitions to press ahead with a stadium rebuild.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The jury also found that Esperanza-Pacheco committed a forcible lewd act upon a child during the commission of a first-degree residential burglary, prosecutors said.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This act of contrition is legible in East Asia, but slightly awkward when performed by Western actors.
    Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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