Explanation:
Definition of action
1a : a thing done : DEED
b : the accomplishment of a thing usually over a period of time, in stages, or with the possibility of repetition
c actions plural : BEHAVIOR, CONDUCT
unscrupulous actions
d : INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE
a man of action
2 : an act of will
an emergency requiring action
3 : the bringing about of an alteration by force or through a natural agency
the action of water on rocks
4 : the manner or method of performing:
a : an actor's or speaker's deportment or expression by means of attitude, voice, and gesture
An actor's words and actions should agree.
b : the style of movement of the feet and legs (as of a horse)
c : a function of the body or one of its parts
5 : the initiating of a proceeding in a court of justice by which one demands or enforces one's right
also : the proceeding itself
6a(1) : an engagement between troops or ships
(2) : combat in war
gallantry in action
b(1) : an event or series of events forming a literary composition
Most of the play's action takes place in a courtroom.
(2) : the unfolding of the events of a drama or work of fiction : PLOT
As the action unfolds, we learn more about the hero's family.
(3) : the movement of incidents in a plot
a movie that is two hours of nonstop action
c : the combination of circumstances that constitute the subject matter of a painting or sculpture
7a : an operating mechanism
b : the manner in which a mechanism or instrument operates
a drill's twisting action
c : the degree of resistance of a musical instrument to being played
Next in consideration is the "action" of the guitar, which from the standpoint of playability, is of utmost importance.
— Aaron Shearer
especially : the response or resistance of keys in a keyboard-operated instrument to the player's or operator's fingers
I went to the piano and played but had great difficulty … because the piano had such stiff action.
— Horace Silver
8a : the price movement and trading volume of a commodity, security, or market
b : the process of betting including the offering and acceptance of a bet and determination of a winner
c : financial gain or an opportunity for financial gain
a piece of the action
9 : sexual activity
10 : the most vigorous, productive, or exciting activity in a particular field, area, or group
wants to be where the action is
11 —used as a director's command to start filming part of a movie or television show
Lights, camera, action!
12 : spin or rotation given to a ball or puck by throwing or hitting it in a particular way
If I am hitting into the wind on the 7th at Pebble Beach, … rather than taking an eight or a nine [iron] and hitting it hard, I'll choose a little eight or even a seven and almost chip the ball, putting as little action on it as possible so it lands softly and doesn't do a lot of spinning.
— Jack Nicklaus
