activity — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state or quality of being active; activeness.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Pit row was abuzz with activity.

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:activity.

2. Something done as an action or a movement.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   pursuitundertaking

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   There has been a controversy in this sphere between economic materialism and the version of Marxism which ascribes an active and independent historical function to 'subjective' factors, i.e. the workings of the intellect and freely directed political activity.

   The activity for the morning was a walk to the store.

3. Something done for pleasure or entertainment, especially one involving movement or an excursion.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   An increasing number of sports activities are on offer at the university.

   Quilting can be an enjoyable activity.

   More examples (1)

   Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.

4. The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change over time and have no natural end point.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   […]distinctions among states of affairs are reflected to a striking degree in distinctions among Aktionsart types. That is, situations are expressed by state verbs or predicates, events by achievement verbs or predicates, and actions by activity verbs or predicates.

5. The number of radioactive decays per unit time. Unit for it: becquerel or curie

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

6. The property of substances to react with other substances

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. any specific behavior

   Antonyms

   inactivity

   Broader terms

   actdeedhuman actionhuman activity

   Examples

   they avoided all recreational activity

2. the state of being active

   Synonyms

   actionactiveness

   Antonyms

   inactivity

   Broader terms

   state

   Examples

   his sphere of activity

   he is out of action

3. an organic process that takes place in the body

   Synonyms

   bodily processbody processbodily function

   Broader terms

   organic processbiological process

   Examples

   respiratory activity

4. (chemistry) the capacity of a substance to take part in a chemical reaction

   Broader terms

   capabilitycapacity

   Examples

   catalytic activity

5. a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)

   Synonyms

   natural processnatural actionaction

   Broader terms

   processphysical process

   Examples

   the action of natural forces

   volcanic activity

6. the trait of being active; moving or acting rapidly and energetically

   Synonyms

   activeness

   Broader terms

   trait

   Examples

   the level of activity declines with age