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

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 Morris asked the court in November to strike the class-action allegation from the suit because, his attorneys argued in court filings, it could not be proven that every Gateway member donated to the church specifically because of the claims about the money’s purpose. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026 That action didn’t stop DCF from moving 76-year-old Jackie Meyerson there months later. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026 Taken together, these actions will cripple Iran's military, crush their ability to support terrorist proxies and deny them the ability to build a nuclear bomb. James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 These meetings have resulted in a coalition of support between the groups for future actions against the pigs of Chicago. Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • Here are five more things to know about the film festival.
    Adam Bell April 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
  • If getting pampered isn’t your thing, the 18-hole Championship golf course is popular and has hosted PGA and LPGA events.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her ultimate goal is to one day get licensed to become an at-home rehabilitator and eventually open an animal sanctuary on a large plot of land.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2026
  • In a major bargaining plot twist, the Writers Guild of America became the first of the three above-the-line entertainment unions to finalize a tentative deal with the major studios and streamers on Saturday.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The girl was forensically examined and interviewed, according to the lawsuit.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Williams ultimately settled his lawsuit with American Demolition before going to trial.
    Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are a number of other guys that are leaders on the field that could have equally served in that opportunity.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
  • That’s because, self-admittedly after the game, Inter Miami’s team itself did not match the intensity of its new home on the field enough during a disappointing 2-2 draw against Austin.
    Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Travel experts share key etiquette tips — from greetings to restaurant behavior — to help visitors blend in while exploring Paris.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Lawyers for the church argue that Morris’ agreements with the church preclude him from those benefits if he was fired or resigned because of immoral behavior.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Fast-forward to the present, and the biennial format has spread across the planet as part of a global culture industry driven as much by tourism and city branding as by artistic ambitions.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, officials refocused the strategic narrative on their ambitions to degrade Iran's conventional military – especially ballistic missile – and nuclear programs.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Those are fighting words, and, in the coming days, the Pope can counter them as much through symbolic acts as through words of peace.
    Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
  • For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.
    Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The filmmaker ultimately sees it as a story about unconditional love.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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