direct action

noun

: action that seeks to achieve an end directly and by the most immediately effective means (such as a boycott or strike)

Examples of direct action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s lack of direct action on the economy in his first week has given an opening to Democrats, who have accused the president of failing to deliver on his sweeping promises to quickly lower costs. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 26 Jan. 2025

Corrie was taking part in nonviolent direct action protests that would block Israeli military vehicles in Gaza. —Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024

Providing the Trump administration and Congress with informed recommendations for saving taxpayers' money, rather than taking direct action, would defuse much of the controversy — but hardly seems in character for Musk. 2. —Scott Rosenberg, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025

Amazon would have no legal options to stop the large-scale worker direct action that would grind the company to a halt. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for direct action

• benefaction
• counteraction
• interaction
• liquefaction
• putrefaction
• rarefaction
• satisfaction
• stupefaction
• tumefaction
• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction

Legal Definition

direct action

noun

1

: an action in which the plaintiff sues a person's insurer without first obtaining a judgment against the insured or joining the insured

2

: a suit by a shareholder for an injury to himself or herself independent from any injury to the corporation

called also individual action

compare derivative action