action

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

Performance

Nouns

1. (act of doing) action, performance, operation, execution, enactment, production; process, procedure, proceeding, transaction; behavior, conduct; work, exertion. See activity.

2. (result of acting) act, affair, effort, job, deed, business, work; stunt; exploit, feat, enterprise; transaction, operation, step, move[ment]; lawsuit, job action; battle (See warfare, contention). Informal, stunt.

3. (one who acts) doer, hack (See agent).

Verbs — act, do, execute, perform, function; operate, work, practice, exercise, commit, perpetrate; raise or lift a finger or a hand; militate; take care of, bring off, carry out, put into effect, translate into action; take effect; take action, proceed, go ahead, do something; progress (See progression); labor, toil, drudge, ply; have many irons in the fire. Informal, run with it or the ball, put one's money where one's mouth is, get with the program.

Adjectives — acting, active, operative, in operation, in action, at work, on duty; functional, effective, efficient; hands on; actionable (See lawsuit). Informal, in harness.

Adverbs — in the act, conspicuously, flagrantly, in flagrante delicto, red-handed.

Phrases — actions speak louder than words; it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness; action without thought is like shooting without aim; we do as we are; we become as we do.

Quotations — Action is eloquence (Shakespeare), If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly (Shakespeare), Action is consolatory ( Joseph Conrad), I am a verb (Ulysses S. Grant).

Antonyms, See inactivity, neglect, repose.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Any state opposed to rest and quiet]

Syn. activity, movement, operation, performance, business, occupation, work, functioning, performing, behavior, response, reaction, execution, commission, manipulation, industry, bustle, turmoil, conflict, stir, flurry, animation, vivacity, enterprise, energy, drive, liveliness, alacrity, alertness, readiness, quickness, keenness, vigor, life, dash, commotion, rush, motion, mobility, haste, speed, activism, go*, doings*, snap*.

Ant. rest*, quiet, inaction.

2. [An individual deed]

Syn. act, deed, feat, exploit, performance, accomplishment, something done, maneuver, step, achievement, thing, blow, stroke, thrust, stratagem, effort, enterprise, endeavor, move, movement, doing, effect, transaction, exertion, operation, bout, handiwork, dealings, procedure, stunt, trick.

3. [A process at law]

Syn. suit, claim, litigation, lawsuit; see trial 2 .

4. [Military activity]

Syn. battle, engagement, combat, fighting; see battle 1 , 2 .

5. [The plot or events in a creative work]

Syn. plot, development, progress, unfolding; see plot 2 .

See Synonym Study at battle .

• bring action

Syn. accuse, start a lawsuit, take to court; see sue .

• see action

Syn. do battle, engage in combat, fight; see fight 2 .

• take action

Syn. become active, do, initiate activity; see act 1 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. activity motion, movement, functioning, performance, working, energy, commotion.

2. act deed, move, effort, enterprise, exercise, exploit. ''Deeds are better things than words are, Actions mightier than boastings.''—Longfellow. ''Well done is better than well said.''—Ben Franklin. 3.effect influence.

4. legal action lawsuit, suit, claim, case.

5. combat battle, hostilities, gunfire, enemy fire, fighting.

6. excitement movement, slam-bang entertainment.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The process of doing: act. See ACTION. 2. Something done: act, deed, doing, thing, work. See DO. 3. The manner in which one behaves. Often used in plural: behavior, comportment, conduct, deportment, way. See BE. 4. A legal proceeding to demand justice or enforce a right: case, cause, instance, lawsuit, suit. See LAW. 5. A hostile encounter between opposing military forces: battle, combat, engagement. See CONFLICT.