action

The word “action” means the process of doing something, especially to achieve a purpose. In plain terms, doing something to get a result — or, in other senses, exciting activity, a lawsuit, or the moving parts of a mechanism.

“Action” is pronounced AK-shuhn (/ˈækʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “action” used in a sentence: “The company took swift action to fix the problem.”

Words with a similar meaning to “action” include act, acting, cocky, deed and doing.

The opposite of “action” — its antonyms — are inaction and omission.

“Action” is a noun.

The word “action” comes from Latin. From Old French accion/aucion, from Latin actio(n)- ("a doing"), from agere ("to do, act").

“Action” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

An action is a single deed done to achieve a purpose, like sending an email. An activity is a broader or ongoing occupation, often made up of many actions, like running a business or playing sport. Action stresses the specific doing; activity stresses the general state of being busy.

An action is something you initiate deliberately to achieve a purpose. A reaction is a response triggered by something else that has already happened. Action comes first and is driven by your own aim; reaction follows and is prompted from outside. Choosing to act rather than merely react is often praised.

The main opposite is inaction — choosing not to do anything, or failing to act when you could. Related opposites include inactivity, idleness, and passivity. Where action means actively doing something to reach a goal, inaction means holding back, and it can carry consequences of its own.