live-action

adjective

live-ac·​tion ˈlīv-ˈak-shən 

variants or less commonly live action

1

: of, relating to, or featuring cinematography that is not produced by animation

a live-action film

2

: done or performed live and usually in person

a live-action performance

live-action role-playing games

Examples of live-action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Japan, where Disney+ has been bundled with Hulu Japan since 2023, TBS’s international studio The Seven signed a multi-year pact in April to co-develop live-action dramas for the service. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026

Cage previously starred in the first two Ghost Rider movies, a franchise now being revived by Ryan Gosling, and as Spider-Noir in both the animated Beyond the Spider-Verse films and the live-action series Prime Video just canceled. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

October sees a lot of high-profile content leaving the service, including all of the Hunger Games movies, the live-action Death Note film, and shows like Dawson's Creek and Poldark, among others. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

From Ryan Reynolds’ standalone live-action movie to Kyle Chandler’s gritty turn in HBO’s Lanterns, here are five actors who have portrayed Green Lantern on screen. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for live-action

• benefaction
• counteraction
• interaction
• liquefaction
• putrefaction
• rarefaction
• satisfaction
• stupefaction
• tumefaction
• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction

Kids Definition

live-action

adjective

live-ac·​tion ˈlīv-ˈak-shən 

1

: of, relating to, or featuring cinematography that is not produced by animation

2

: done or performed live and usually in person