Action Taking ˈækʃn Extra Examples Government I Stop

• the time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive.
• to threaten/demand/call for action
• firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading.
• divers were close at hand, ready to go into action if the stunt went wrong.

action

1. the process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation
• SEE ALSO affirmative action
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/affirmative-action
• The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive.
• to threaten/demand/call for action
• Firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading.
• Divers were close at hand, ready to go into action if the stunt went wrong.
• What is the best course of action in the circumstances?
• She began to explain her plan of action to the group.
• The men face disciplinary action.

Extra Examples

• Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat.
• He urged the government to take decisive action against music piracy.
• Is this the best course of action to follow?
• The government is taking strong action on refugees.
• The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism.
• The situation calls for drastic action.
• Unless appropriate action is taken, our sales will decline.
• We have to galvanize people into action.
• We'll take whatever action is necessary.
• action against drug dealers
• Her quick action saved the child's life.
• The Japanese government headed by Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru began taking a hard line against labor actions.
• They called off their action at 7.40 am after the meeting was arranged.
• Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed.
• At the pit level there were activists linked together who could coordinate action even if some of those at the top of the union wanted to hold it back.
2. a thing that somebody does
• Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions.
• They sought to justify their actions.

Extra Examples

• There can be no excuse for these actions.
• We shall take whatever actions are necessary.
• Only the priest can perform these actions.
3. things that workers do, especially stopping work, to protest to their employers about something
• SEE ALSO direct action
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/direct-action
• Workers voted in favour of strike action.
• They called off their action at 7.40 am after the meeting was arranged.
• Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed.
• The government began taking a hard line against labour actions.
4. a legal process to stop a person or company from doing something, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc.
• SEE ALSO class action
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/class-action
• A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article.
• He is considering taking legal action against the hospital.

Extra Examples

• I considered taking legal action.
• Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce.
• They took out a libel action against the newspaper's owners.
5. fighting in a battle or war
• The possibility of taking military action has not been ruled out.
• I never saw action during the war.
• soldiers killed in action

Extra Examples

• He was killed during enemy action.
• He was reported missing in action.
• paramilitary covert action teams working overseas
6. the events in a story, play, etc.
• SEE ALSO live action
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/live-action_1
• The action takes place in France.
7. exciting events
• I like films with plenty of action.
• New York is where the action is.
• If you want to know where all the action is around here, just ask Jo.
8. the effect that something such as a chemical has on something
• Vitamin D can be made in the body by the action of sunlight on the skin.
• The action of the rushing water cleans the gully.
9. the way a part of the body moves or functions
• a study of the action of the liver
10. the mechanical parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts move
• SEE ALSO bolt-action
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/bolt-action
11. what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
12. if somebody/something is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them
• Just press the button to see your favourite character in action.
• I've yet to see all the players in action.
• I have not yet seen the machines in action.
13. if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work
• The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis.
• We need to put these ideas into action.
14. not able to work or be used because of injury or damage
• Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg.
• The photocopier is out of action today.
• He is out of action following an ankle injury.
15. a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially one that makes money
• Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead.
16. to suddenly start working or doing something
• ‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action.
• The town springs to life (= becomes busy) during the carnival.
17. to start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy
• The ambulance crew swung into action to resuscitate the patient.
• The rescue operation swung into action immediately.
• The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported.
18. to act in order to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation
• The pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: via Old French from Latin actio(n-), from agere ‘do, act’.