Definition of actionnext
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2
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 Some of the strongest action remained in the gold market, where the metal’s price jumped to another record. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026 Unfortunately, recent City Council actions affecting the 48th Ward — particularly the designation of the entire 48th Ward as a low affordability community (LAC) layered on top of the recent upzoning of Broadway — violate that principle. Jack Markowski, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026 Standstill agreements typically prevent investors and their affiliates from acquiring shares beyond a certain limit and taking other actions with respect to the companies. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 In other action, Grace El-Deir and Audrey Redus each scored two goals and Aidan Hernandez had a goal and four assists as Round Rock beat Cedar Ridge 8-0. .... Butch Hart, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • The updates mark Google’s push toward an agentic web, where browsers do more than display pages and instead help users get things done faster.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • These are the signature Big Think dialogues that slow things down, ditch the script, and reveal how great minds actually think.
    Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The unabashed silliness of the plot does little to dilute the entertainment value of director Juan Piquer Simón's sleazy, cheesy fever dream.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
  • For many viewers, the plot lines feel human, flawed and real.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The lawsuit claims Saint Ann’s leadership was alerted twice in early 2024 that explicit images of young girls were circulating among students on Snapchat but failed to notify police or intervene beyond internal meetings.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Such lawsuits are difficult to win, because unlike state or local officials, federal officials are protected by immunity in many cases.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That shooting prowess carried over into Friday night’s game, as Grand Canyon began the game shooting 10-for-13 from the field, including a perfect 5-for-5 start from beyond the arc.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
  • While this idea sparked an entire field of research, experiments were long limited by the difficulty of controlling and measuring objects just a nanometer across.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, behavior change, and technology.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • But the hardest part of the novel wasn’t scripting the scheming, backstabbing, or duplicitous behavior.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As long as that business continues to dominate in mobile, exceed expectations and throw off billions of dollars of cash a quarter, Zuckerberg is likely to get plenty of leeway to pursue his AI ambitions.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Solopreneur Amber Taylor, owner of PinkCove, realized very quickly that a gap in AI skills doesn’t exist because of a lack of intelligence or ambition.
    Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Neem oil affects insects' feeding abilities and acts as a repellent.
    Jon VanZile, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The new Fed chief faces a tough balancing act on the dual mandate of fostering employment and keeping prices stable.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Beyond the famous spaceships, X-Wing and TIE Fighter also brought compelling stories set in the Star Wars universe, alongside technical advancements like fully 3D graphics in place of the bitmap sprites of previous titles.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Ludwig wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news on Thursday.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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