action in WordNet English dictionary

1. put in effect
   "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation"
   carry through  accomplish  execute  carry out  action  fulfill  fulfil 
   
2. institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
   "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination"
   action  sue  litigate  process 
   

1. the most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field
   "the action is no longer in technology stocks but in municipal bonds"; "gawkers always try to get as close to the action as possible"
   action 
   
2. a judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong
   legal action  action  action at law 
   
3. something done (usually as opposed to something said)
   "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
   action 
   
4. a military engagement
   "he saw action in Korea"
   military action  action 
   
5. an act by a government body or supranational organization
   "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"; "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"; "the Union action of emancipating Southern slaves"
   action 
   
6. the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism
   "the piano had a very stiff action"
   action  action mechanism 
   
7. the trait of being active and energetic and forceful
   "a man of action"
   action 
   
8. the series of events that form a plot
   "his novels always have a lot of action"
   action 
   
9. a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
   "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"
   natural process  natural action  action  activity 
   
10. the state of being active
    "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"
    action  activity  activeness