Collocations for action - noun
1. process of doing sth
ADJECTIVE
decisive,
effective,
firm,
strong,
vigorous
He urged the government to take decisive action against music piracy.
He urged the government to take decisive action against music piracy.
aggressive,
violent
immediate, prompt, swift, urgent
appropriate
Unless appropriate action is taken, our sales will decline.
immediate, prompt, swift, urgent
appropriate
Unless appropriate action is taken, our sales will decline.
drastic,
emergency
The situation calls for drastic action.
The situation calls for drastic action.
collective,
concerted,
joint,
united
(esp. BrE)
direct, positive, unilateral
corrective, evasive, remedial
pre-emptive, preventative, preventive
disciplinary, legal, military, strike
Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat.
direct, positive, unilateral
corrective, evasive, remedial
pre-emptive, preventative, preventive
disciplinary, legal, military, strike
Disciplinary action will be taken against students who cheat.
congressional (esp. AmE),
government,
governmental,
legislative,
political,
state
(esp. AmE)
affirmative (esp. AmE)
Affirmative action was most successful in creating opportunities for college-educated women.
affirmative (esp. AmE)
Affirmative action was most successful in creating opportunities for college-educated women.
VERB + action
take
We'll take whatever action is necessary.
We'll take whatever action is necessary.
call for
agree on
The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism.
agree on
The leaders have agreed on joint action to combat terrorism.
leap into,
spring into,
swing into
The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported.
The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported.
carry out,
perform
Only the priest can perform these actions.
Only the priest can perform these actions.
galvanize sb into,
prod sb into,
spur sb into
We have to galvanize people into action.
We have to galvanize people into action.
bring sth into,
put sth into
We need to put these ideas into action.
We need to put these ideas into action.
keep sb/sth out of,
put sb/sth out of
A fire has put the factory out of action.
A fire has put the factory out of action.
PREPOSITION
in action
I have not yet seen the machines in action.
I have not yet seen the machines in action.
out of action
He is out of action following an ankle injury.
He is out of action following an ankle injury.
action against
action against drug dealers
action against drug dealers
action on
The government is taking strong action on refugees.
The government is taking strong action on refugees.
PHRASES
actions speak louder than words
(saying)
a course of action
Is this the best course of action to follow?
a course of action
Is this the best course of action to follow?
2. legal case
VERB + action
bring,
file,
initiate,
take
I considered taking legal action.
They took out a libel action against the newspaper's owners.
Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce.
I considered taking legal action.
They took out a libel action against the newspaper's owners.
Her husband brought a civil action against her after their divorce.
3. fighting
ADJECTIVE
combat (esp. AmE),
enemy
He was killed during enemy action.
He was killed during enemy action.
terrorist
covert
paramilitary covert action teams working overseas
covert
paramilitary covert action teams working overseas
PHRASES
killed in action,
missing in action,
wounded in action
He was reported missing in action.
He was reported missing in action.