{
    "term": "action",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "the process of doing something in order to make something happen or to deal with a situation",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to threaten/demand/call for action"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Firefighters **took action** immediately to stop the blaze spreading."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Divers were close at hand, ready to **go into action** if the stunt went wrong."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What is the best **course of action** in the circumstances?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She began to explain her **plan of action** to the group."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The men face **disciplinary action**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He urged the government to take decisive action against music piracy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Is this the best course of action to follow?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government is taking strong action on tax fraud."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The situation calls for drastic action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unless appropriate action is taken, our sales will decline."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We have to galvanize people into action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We'll take whatever action is necessary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "action against drug dealers"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her quick action saved the child's life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They called off their action at 7.40 am after the meeting was arranged."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "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."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["decisive", "effective", "firm"],
                "verb + action": ["take", "call for", "agree on"],
                "preposition": ["in action", "out of action", "action against"],
                "phrases": ["actions speak louder than words", "a course of action"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a thing that somebody does",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They sought to **justify their actions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There can be no excuse for these actions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We shall take whatever actions are necessary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Only the priest can perform these actions."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["decisive", "effective", "firm"],
                "verb + action": ["take", "call for", "agree on"],
                "preposition": ["in action", "out of action", "action against"],
                "phrases": ["actions speak louder than words", "a course of action"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "things that workers do, especially stopping work, to protest to their employers about something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Workers voted in favour of **strike action**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They called off their action at 7.40 a.m. after the meeting was arranged."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Unions said the action could be suspended early on Friday if talks between the two sides resumed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government began taking a hard line against labour actions."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a legal process to stop a person or company from doing something, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc.",
            "sensetop": "action against somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is considering **taking legal action** against the hospital.",
                    "contextForm": "action against somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I considered taking legal action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They took out a libel action against the newspaper's owners."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["court", "civil", "criminal"],
                "verb + action": ["bring", "file", "initiate"],
                "preposition": ["action against"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "fighting in a battle or war",
            "sensetop": "in action",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The possibility of **taking military action **has not been ruled out."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I never saw action during the war."
                },
                {
                    "text": "soldiers killed in action",
                    "contextForm": "in action"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was killed during enemy action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was reported missing in action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "paramilitary covert action teams working overseas"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["History", "War and conflict"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["combat", "enemy", "terrorist"],
                "verb + action": ["see"],
                "phrases": [
                    "killed in action",
                    "missing in action",
                    "wounded in action"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "the events in a story, play, etc.",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The action takes place in France."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Film and theatre"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "exciting events",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I like films with plenty of action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "New York is where the action is."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you want to know where all the action is around here, just ask Jo."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "the effect that something such as a chemical has on something",
            "sensetop": "action of something (on something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Vitamin D can be made in the body by the action of sunlight on the skin."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The action of the rushing water cleans the gully."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "the way a part of the body moves or functions",
            "labels": "(specialist)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a study of the action of the liver"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "the mechanical parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts move",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Engineering"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if somebody/something is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Just press the button to see your favourite character in action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've yet to see all the players in action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have not yet seen the machines in action."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to put these ideas into action."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "not able to work or be used because of injury or damage",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The photocopier is out of action today."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is out of action following an ankle injury."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially one that makes money",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to suddenly start working or doing something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The town springs to life *(= becomes busy)* during the carnival."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The ambulance crew swung into action to resuscitate the patient."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rescue operation swung into action immediately."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to act in order to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈækʃn/",
                "audio": "ac/action/action__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈækʃn/",
                "audio": "ac/action/action__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: via Old French from Latin actio(n-), from agere ‘do, act’."
}