1
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

5
6

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 Despite calls from some of Texas’ most powerful Republicans, French will likely stay in office if action isn’t taken locally, according to Calvin Jillson, a political science professor at SMU. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025 One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 So yes, action thriller elements or not, this is a Kurosawa movie through and through. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 July 2025 The Kremlin said both leaders condemned Israel's actions, describing them as violations of international law. Amanda Castro shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • Meanwhile…things haven’t looked so good for Starbucks in China recently, and not just because its baristas can’t spell names in Chinese characters, either.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 2 July 2025
  • The downside is that each method has a potential reaction from the AGI or ASI that could turn things ugly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • The family at the heart of the story run a tourism business allowing Cappadocia to feature in a way that naturally chimes with the narrative, but the connection between landscape and plot runs far deeper, series director Murat Saraçoğlu says.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • The number of politically motivated attacks and plots against government agents in just the past five years is three times higher than those in the previous 25 years combined, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was added Friday to a lawsuit against his former employer, the University of Michigan, and a former assistant football coach accused of hacking into computer systems to acquire photos of college athletes.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
  • For decades, private individuals and groups have brought most of the lawsuits focused on enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
    Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
  • Butler, Georgetown and Villanova field football teams at the FCS level, but Villanova athletic director Eric Roedl and Butler athletic director Grant Leiendecker have said explicitly that their revenue-sharing efforts will prioritize basketball.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • At Bock Realty Group, trust is built in the small, consistent behaviors that often go unnoticed: celebrating wins, checking in without being asked, and showing up with steady care.
    Alain Hunkins, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The intense exchange between Kemp, 48, and Rock, 25, took place early Tuesday (July 1) morning, with Rock allegedly calling the social media personality to seemingly address Kemp’s remarks regarding her behavior and parenting of her son with rapper Blueface, who is currently incarcerated.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Now back in her hometown of Chicago, the MIT prodigy and armor-building genius is chasing her ambitions — while also getting entangled with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), a.k.a.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The bet is a next leg of L’Oréal’s increasing ambitions in the beauty-tech space, fueled by efforts to bring forth tech innovations that are accessible and solve solutions for everyday consumers.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Grace reminds us that spaceflight is not just a feat of engineering, but an act of goodwill to the benefit of every human everywhere.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
  • Yet a war with Iran may be enough to seemingly legitimize his use of the act.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Editor's note: This story is part of a series tracking the experiences of four graduating seniors at four different Michigan universities.
    Meg Vandermark, Freep.com, 5 July 2025
  • This story will be updated after the men's event concludes.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 5 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on action

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!