▸ act up
1 PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If something is acting up , it is not working properly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] She was messing with the coffee pot, which was acting up again.
2 PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If a child is acting up , they are behaving badly. [INFORMAL ]
act|ing /æ kt I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Acting is the activity or profession of performing in plays or films. □ She pursued an acting career after four years of modelling.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use acting before the title of a job to indicate that someone is doing that job temporarily. □ …the new acting President.
ac|tion ◆◆◆ /æ kʃ ə n/ (actions , actioning , actioned )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Action is doing something for a particular purpose. □ The government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis.
2 N‑COUNT An action is something that you do on a particular occasion. □ Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.
3 N‑COUNT To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. [LEGAL ] □ [+ against ] Two leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.
4 N‑SING The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. [INFORMAL ] □ Hollywood is where the action is now.
5 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action . □ …a murderous war that would see millions die, as a result of direct military action. □ 13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] An action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An action hero is the main character in one of these films.
7 VERB [usu passive] If you action something that needs to be done, you deal with it. [BUSINESS ] □ [be V -ed] Documents can be actioned, or filed immediately.
8 PHRASE If someone or something is out of action , they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used. □ He's been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury.
9 PHRASE If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action , they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.
10 PHRASE If you put an idea or policy into action , you begin to use it or cause it to operate. □ They have learned the lessons of business management theory, and put them into action. COLLOCATIONS action NOUN
1
adjective + action : appropriate, decisive, drastic; emergency, immediate, urgent; disciplinary, legal, military
verb + action : take; defend, justify, support; demand
3
verb + action : bring, initiate, launch, pursue; threaten SYNONYMS action NOUN
1
measure: He said stern measures would be taken against the killers
step: He greeted the agreement as the first step towards peace.
manoeuvre: …manoeuvres to block the electoral process.
2
deed: His heroic deeds were celebrated in every corner of India.
move: It may also be a good move to suggest she talks things over.
act: My insurance excludes acts of sabotage and damage done by weapons of war.
ac|tion|able /æ kʃənəb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something that you do or say to someone is actionable , it gives them a valid reason for bringing a legal case against you.
a c|tion re |play (action replays ) N‑COUNT An action replay is a repeated showing, usually in slow motion, of an event that has just been on television. [BRIT ] in AM, use instant replay
ac|ti|vate /æ kt I ve I t/ (activates , activating , activated ) VERB [usu passive] If a device or process is activated , something causes it to start working. □ [be V -ed] Video cameras with night vision can be activated by movement. □ [V -ed] …a voice-activated computer. ● ac|ti|va|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] A computer controls the activation of an air bag.
ac|tive ◆◆◇ /æ kt I v/
1 ADJ Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things. □ Having an active youngster about the house can be quite wearing. □ …a long and active life.
2 ADJ If you have an active mind or imagination, you are always thinking of new things. □ …the tragedy of an active mind trapped by failing physical health.
3 ADJ If someone is active in an organization, cause, or campaign, they do things for it rather than just giving it their support. □ …a chance for fathers to play a more active role in childcare. ● ac|tive|ly ADV □ They actively campaigned for the vote.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Active is used to emphasize that someone is taking action in order to achieve something, rather than just hoping for it or achieving it in an indirect way. [EMPHASIS ] □ Companies need to take active steps to increase exports. □ …active discouragement from teachers. ● ac|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ They have never been actively encouraged to take such risks.
5 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a person or animal is active in a particular place or at a particular time, you mean that they are performing their usual activities or performing a particular activity. □ Guerrilla groups are active in the province.