The noun action has 10 senses (first 9 from tagged texts)
1. (632) action -- (something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions")
2. (168) action, activity, activeness -- (the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action")
3. (55) legal action, action, action at law -- (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)
4. (49) action -- (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")
5. (49) military action, action -- (a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea")
6. (43) natural process, natural action, action, activity -- (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity")
7. (33) action -- (the series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action")
8. (19) action, action mechanism -- (the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action")
9. (7) action -- (the trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action")
10. action -- (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")
Overview of verb action
The verb action has 2 senses (no senses from tagged texts)
1. action, sue, litigate, process -- (institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against; "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination")
2. carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfil -- (put in effect; "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation")