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

See Examples For:

direct action

Menon added that it would be "laughable" if any Palestine Action activist actually believed direct action would achieve the group's stated aim to "shut Elbit down".

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

The Court of Appeal was told in written submissions that between August 2024 and the June 2025 ban, Palestine Action members were involved in 158 "direct action events" against 48 different business premises.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 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

As the head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, Randolph believed in the power of strikes and direct action to get results.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 23, 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