Action

/ˈæk.ʃən/ · noun

Meaning

The effort of performing or doing something..

Definitions by Sense

1. The effort of performing or doing something.
2. Something done, often so as to accomplish a purpose.
3. A way of motion or functioning.
4. Fast-paced activity.
5. The way in which a mechanical device acts when used; especially a firearm.
6. A physical mechanism.
7. (music) The mechanism, that is the set of moving mechanical parts, of a keyboard instrument, like a piano, which transfers the motion of the key to the sound-making device.
8. (music, lutherie) The distance separating the strings and the fingerboard on a string instrument.

Example Sentences

Knead bread with a rocking action.

a movie full of exciting action

Pressing a piano key causes the action of the hammer on the string.

Spinola was hovering about the external fittings of the figure with unusual fussiness. When at length he released the left hand it seemed for an almost perceptible moment that the action hung. Then the arm descended and carried out the discard.

The run in bar 12 is almost impossible with this piano's heavy action.

You're getting fret buzz because the action is too low.

She gave him some action.

I hope to get a bit of action with the hot guy from the club.

Synonyms for action

Antonyms for action

Related Words

Word Forms

• actions
• action!
• more action
• most action
• actioning
• actioned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions