NYT Dictionary

ACTION

/ˈækʃən/
NounInterjectionAdjectiveVerbAC-tionac-tion · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2025, 2026

Meaning

The effort of performing or doing something.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin āctum Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin āctiō Old French aucionbor. Middle English accioun English action From Middle English accioun, accion, from Old French aucion, acciun, from Latin āctiō(n) (“act of doing or making”), from āct(us) + action suffix -iō(n), perfect passive participle of agere (“do, act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti. See also act, active. By surface analysis, act + -ion.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

deedaphrodisiacarnal knowledgecoituscoitioncommercecommixtioncongressconjunctionconnection

Antonyms

cutinactionomissioninactivityinactiveness

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.