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 Showing their belief in the property, Murphy and Montford worked together under their genre and action-focused Angry Films banner for 16 years to get this project developed. William Earl, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 Sporting begins Coachella Valley Invitational action on Saturday against Minnesota United. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026 The far higher leverage, action-spurring pressure point on March 6, however, is still the main event. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Exponential growth is on display here following Palantir’s intentional actions on how to go to market, develop products, and be an enabler of AI decision-making, BofA wrote. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • The brain is also far more adept at handling things like ambiguity, subtlety, and nuance.
    Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Perhaps, in the distant past, things once were very different on Venus, and perhaps there’s a rich history of ancient, early life on that planet.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Indeed, depth would only get in the way of the plot, which is primarily concerned with fooling you and fooling you again.
    Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • That’s what this plot requires.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Cross later filed a federal lawsuit against Nanos, claiming the sheriff violated his First Amendment rights.
    Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Harvard sued the administration in a pair of lawsuits.
    JOCELYN GECKER, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Maybe Romero was the perfect vice-captain under former head coach Ange Postecoglou because his fiery on-field persona balanced the calmness of Son Heung-min.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • For decades the old guard has held the line in the South, but the drumbeat of change grew like a fight song on a college football field.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The findings also support earlier work linking Jupiter’s atmospheric behavior to its deep interior structure.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The model’s core weights remain untouched, but the system can still adapt its behavior based on the task at hand.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As humanity moves from brief space missions toward longer stays — driven by commercial ambitions for moon bases and eventual Martian settlements — scientists are beginning to confront how the conditions of space may affect human reproduction.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • None of these quite conveys his big ambitions except the Noguchi Museum itself.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Yet staying – and taking pride in one’s roots – also becomes an act of resistance for Bad Bunny.
    Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The fire department believes the tragic crash was an accident, not an intentional criminal act.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In the past year, their silence broken by the abolition of the police force, residents have started trading stories.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • This week was an exception, as Ronaldo became a story for not playing a game.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

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