live-action
Americanadjective
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of or relating to movies, videos, and the like, that feature real performers, as distinguished from animation.
A new live-action version of the classic animated film will be released later this year.
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Informal. live.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of live-action
First recorded in 1955–60
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.
Second place went to "Moana," Disney's latest live-action remake of one of its animated hits.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
On Friday, the entire school got to enjoy an exclusive sing-along version of the film, which is a live-action remake of Disney's hit animated version from 2016.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The live-action version came just 10 years after the original animated hit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The film’s $43 million domestic debut virtually tied last year’s “Snow White” for the lowest opening of any Disney live-action remake of an animated classic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
To that you could add communism, games, the web comic Homestuck, and live-action role-playing, or larping.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
