activity

noun

ac·tiv·i·ty ak-ˈti-və-tē

plural activities

Synonyms of activity next

: the quality or state of being active : behavior or actions of a particular kind

physical activity

criminal activity

economic activity

: vigorous or energetic action : liveliness

a scene of excitement and activity

: natural or normal function: such as

: a process (such as digestion) that an organism carries on or participates in by virtue of being alive

: a similar process actually or potentially involving mental function

specifically : an educational procedure designed to stimulate learning by firsthand experience

: an active force

: a pursuit in which a person is active

business activities

social activities

: a form of organized, supervised, often extracurricular recreation

The camp offers hiking, swimming, and other activities.

: an organizational unit for performing a specific function

also : its function or duties

the restaurant inspection activity of the health department

Example Sentences

The holidays always set off a lot of activity in our home. the sexual activity of married couples The police are now monitoring criminal activity in the area. She gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. The instruments are used to detect volcanic activity on the island. We planned an activity for the children. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The bill calls for school districts to consider community feedback when making decisions, allow parents to address school boards, and notify parents of violent activity happening on school grounds. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2023 Look no further than that first challenge on Gabon or the one that knocked three people out in Kaoh Rong to serve as Exhibit A as to the suckiness of such activity. —

Dalton Ross, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023 Monaco said those responsible should include the wrongdoers and supervisors who had knowledge of the activity or were willfully blind. —

Chris Strohm And Benjamin Penn, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2023 The dearth of activity sparked a 53% drop in revenue from the business last year and analysts are expecting additional declines in the first quarter. —

Jenny Surane, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2023 These bursts of activity barely cut into our screen time, let alone counteract the sedentary conditions of modern life. —

Alice Robb, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2023 There's hiking in the morning, followed by strength conditioning, yoga, or circuit training in the afternoon for a total of 8 hours of activity. —

Liz Krieger, Town & Country, 1 Mar. 2023 Dig deeper: China’s Economy Seen Emerging From Zero-Covid Shadow A sharper-than-expected expansion of activity offers Chinese leaders an opportunity to shift the spotlight away from pandemic missteps. —

Matthew Thomas, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2023 The geysers and hot springs, however, betray the boiling cauldron of volcanic and seismic activity beneath the surface of Yellowstone. —

Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'activity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actyvete "active life," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French activité "power of acting, exercise of this power," borrowed from Medieval Latin āctīvitāt-, āctīvitās (Late Latin, "active form of a verb"), from Latin āctīvus active entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of activity was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century