Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

action stations

British  

plural noun

  1. military the positions taken up by individuals in preparation for or during a battle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. military a command to take up such positions

  2. informal a warning to get ready for something

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The first-stage alert lights began flashing—just an all-hands call to action stations, but I still expected the corridor to fill with hustling people.

From Slate • May 25, 2019

The fleet he visits will have just returned from action stations where it was poised for combat.

From Time Magazine Archive

Over the loudspeaker system brassed the marine bugler's warning, the boatswain's call: "All hands to action stations."

From Time Magazine Archive

There was a mad rush to action stations.

From The Secret of the Ninth Planet by Wollheim, Donald Allen

The alarm was rung, and as the men rushed to action stations a signal was made to the Smack asking what was wrong.

From Sea-Hounds by Freeman, Lewis R.