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DictionaryRoot: agere
Latin

agere

drive, set in motion; do

Forms

  • ag-
  • act- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘done.’
  • -ig- — Used in some Latin compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ag-, ‘drive; lead.’

Note

A root for driving things forward also came to describe performing an action.

2 / 26
noun / verb

action

AK-shuhn/ˈækʃn/

Purposeful or eventful activity.

She takes action by picking up litter beside the path.

An adult picks up litter and places it in a bin, a concrete action.
Etymology
actLatindrive, set in motion; do
+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The root meaning “do” becomes a noun for doing or performing. From that process sense, action also names a particular deed—something actually done rather than merely said or considered.

In context

Transformation Talk Radio4:05
it's having fear and taking action anyway you know that's certainly something that gets played out in the martial arts i mean just going from one belt to another so to speak takes a lot of courage
Be Stubborn with Your Goals, But Flexible with Your Methods featuring Special Guest, Chris Natzke

More examples

  • The soldiers saw action during the campaign.
  • The film combines expressive stage action with a fast-moving chase.
  • The bookmaker reported heavy action on the championship game.
  • He resented the assumption that every date promised sexual action.

Forms

action · actions · actioned · actioning

active adjective — Engaged in action rather than remaining passive.

Similar words

activity
Describes doing things without necessarily implying a purposeful response.
deed
Usually names one particular act rather than ongoing events.