direct action

American  

noun

1. any action seeking to achieve an immediate or direct result, especially an action against an established authority or powerful institution, as a strike or picketing.

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direct action British  

noun

1. action such as strikes or civil disobedience, employed by organized labour or other groups to obtain demands from an employer, government, etc

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Other Word Forms

• direct actionist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of direct action

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

They believe that direct action is required to stop the descent of this AI judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The group had gathered at the Quaker Meeting House in Westminster for what was billed as "nonviolent direct action training".

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

"We really need to take direct action against some of the individuals in the UK, the ambassador again needs to be called in."

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

"At the budget I will take direct action to ease the cost of living for all households," she wrote in The Times newspaper.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

He argued ceaselessly for economic empowerment, carrying along in his wake less progressive blacks who were still getting used to the idea of direct action for even social goals.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson