live-action

American

[lahyv-ak-shuhn] / ˈlaɪvˈæk ʃən /

adjective

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.
Informal. live.

Other Word Forms

live action noun

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.

It will also see the comeback of Rick Moranis, who was one of the biggest box office stars of the 1980s and 90s but hasn't appeared in a live-action film for three decades.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Catherine Laga’aia, the star of the live-action adaptation of "Moana", will be recognized as the Breakthrough Star of the Year.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

One of the studio’s biggest franchises is the “Spider-Man” universe, which includes both live-action films starring actors like Tom Holland and the Oscar-winning animated “Spider-Verse” movies.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

He also announced the second season of FX hit “Shogun” will come out next year and a sequel to last year’s blockbuster live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” will be released in May of 2028.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

They began to endorse Japanese products and had a cartoon and a live-action TV series based on their exploits.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023