Classes Voluntary Powers Voluntary Action Simple Voluntary Action
Simple Voluntary Action
Nouns
action, performance
doing, c. v.
perpetration
exercise, excitation
movement, operation, evolution, work
labor etc. (exertion) Exertion
praxis, execution
procedure etc. (conduct) Conduct
handicraft
business etc. Business
agency etc. (power at work) Agency . deed, act, overt act, stitch, touch, gest transaction, job, doings, dealings, proceeding, measure, step, maneuver, bout, passage, move, stroke, blow
coup, coup de main
tour de force etc. (display) Ostentation
feat, exploit
achievement etc. (completion) Completion
handiwork, workmanship
manufacture
stroke of policy etc. (plan) Plan . actor etc. (doer) Agent .
Verbs
do, perform, execute
achieve etc. (complete) Completion
transact, enact
commit, perpetrate, inflict
exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play. employ oneself, ply one's task
officiate, have in hand etc. (business) Business
labor etc. Exertion
be at work
pursue a course
shape one's course etc. (conduct) Conduct . act, operate
take action, take steps
strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand
take in hand etc. (undertake) Undertaking
put oneself in motion
put in practice
carry into execution etc. (complete) Completion
act upon. be an actor etc. Agent
take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in
participate in
have a hand in, have a finger in the pie
have to do with
be a party to, be a participator in
bear a hand, lend a hand
pull an oar, run in a race
mix oneself up with etc. (meddle) Activity . be in action
come into operation etc. (power at work) Agency .
Adjectives
doing etc. v.
acting
in action
in harness
on duty
in operation etc. Agency .
Adverbs
in the act, in the midst of, in the thick of
red-handed
while one's hand is in.
Phrases
action is eloquence" [Coriolanus]
actions speak louder than words
actum aiunt ne agas [Terence]
awake, arise, or be forever fall'n" [Paradise Lost]
our deeds are sometimes better than our our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts" [Bailey]
the great end of life is not knowledge but the great end of life is not knowledge but action" [Huxley]
thought is the soul of act" [R. Browning]
we live in deeds not years" [Bailey] .
Nouns
inaction, passiveness, abstinence from action
noninterference, nonintervention
Fabian policy, conservative policy
neglect etc. Neglect . inactivity etc. Inactivity
rest etc. (repose) Repose
quiescence etc. Quiescence
want of occupation, inoccupation
idle hours, time hanging on one's hands
sinecure, featherbed, featherbedding, cushy job, no-show job
soft snap, soft thing.
Verbs
not do, not act, not attempt
be inactive etc. Inactivity
abstain from doing, do nothing, hold, spare
not stir, not move, not lift a finger, not lift a foot, not lift a peg
fold one's arms, fold one's hands
leave alone, let alone
let be, let pass, let things take their course, let it have its way, let well alone, let well enough alone
rest and be thankful, live and let live
lie rest upon one's oars
stand aloof
refrain etc. (avoid) [Absence of pursuit.] Avoidance
remit one's efforts, relax one's efforts
desist etc. (relinquish) Relinquishment
stop etc. (cease) [Change from action to rest.] Cessation
pause etc. (be quiet) Quiescence . wait, lie in wait, bide one's time, take time, tide it over. cool one's heels, kick one's heels
while away the time, while away tedious hours
pass the time, fill up the time, beguile the time
talk against time
let the grass grow under one's feet
waste time etc. (inactive) Inactivity . lie by, lie on the shelf, lie in ordinary, lie idle, lie to, lie fallow
keep quiet, slug
have nothing to do, whistle for want of thought. undo, do away with
take down, take to pieces
destroy etc. [Nonproduction.] Destruction
Adjectives
not doing etc. v.
not done etc. v.
undone
passive
unoccupied, unemployed
out of employ, out of work
fallow
Adverbs
at a stand, with folded arms
with the hands in the pockets, with the hands behind one's back
Phrases
If it ain't broke don't fix it" [Bert Lance]
let the decision stand
Nouns
activity
briskness, liveliness etc. adj.
animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy
snap, vim. nimbleness, agility
smartness, quickness etc. adj.
velocity, c. Velocity
alacrity, promptitude
despatch, dispatch
expedition
haste etc. Haste
punctuality etc. (early) Earliness . eagerness, zeal, ardor, earnestness, intentness
abandon
vigor etc. (physical energy) Physical Energy
devotion etc. (resolution) Resolution
exertion etc. Exertion . industry, assiduity
assiduousness etc. adj.
sedulity
laboriousness
drudgery etc. (labor) Exertion
painstaking, diligence
perseverance etc. Resolution .Existence
indefatigation
habits of business. vigilance etc. Care [Vigilance.]
wakefulness
sleeplessness, restlessness
insomnia
pervigilium, insomnium
racketing. movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness
flurry etc. (haste) Haste . officiousness
dabbling, meddling
interference, interposition, intermeddling
tampering with, intrigue. press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action. housewife, busy bee
new brooms
sharp fellow, sharp blade
devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank
hummer, hustler, live man [U.S.] , rustler [U.S.] .
Verbs
be active etc. adj.
busy oneself in
stir, stir about, stir one's stumps
bestir oneself, rouse oneself
speed, hasten, peg away, lay about one, bustle, fuss
raise up, kick up a dust
push
make a push, make a fuss, make a stir
go ahead, push forward
fight one's way, elbow one's way
make progress etc. [Motion forward; progressive motion.] Progression
toll etc. (labor) Exertion
plod, persist etc. (persevere) Resolution .Existence
keep up the ball, keep the pot boiling. look sharp
have all one's eyes about one etc. (vigilance) Care [Vigilance.]
rise, arouse oneself, hustle, get up early, be about, keep moving, steal a march, kill two birds with one stone
seize the opportunity etc. Occasion , lose no time, not lose a moment, make the most of one's time, not suffer the grass to grow under one's feet, improve the shining hour, make short work of
dash off
make haste etc. Haste
do one's best take pains etc. (exert oneself) Exertion
do wonders, work wonders. have many irons in the fire, have one's hands full, have much on one's hands
have other things to do, have other fish to fry
be busy
not have a moment to spare, not have a moment that one can call one's own. have one's fling, run the round of
go all lengths, stick at nothing, run riot. outdo
overdo, overact, overlay, overshoot the mark
make a toil of a pleasure. have a hand in etc. (act in) Action
take an active part, put in one's oar, have a finger in the pie, mix oneself up with, trouble, one's head about, intrigue
agitate. tamper with, meddle, moil
intermeddle, interfere, interpose
obtrude
poke one's nose in, thrust one's nose in.
Adjectives
active, brisk, brisk as a lark, brisk as a bee
lively, animated, vivacious
alive, alive and kicking
frisky, spirited, stirring. nimble, nimble as a squirrel
agile
light-footed, nimble-footed
featly, tripping. quick, prompt, yare, instant, ready, alert, spry, sharp, smart
fast etc. (swift) Velocity
quick as a lamplighter, expeditious
awake, broad awake
go-ahead, live wide-awake [U.S.] etc. (intelligent) Intelligence, Wisdom . forward, eager, strenuous, zealous, enterprising, in earnest
resolute etc. Resolution . industrious, assiduous, diligent, sedulous, notable, painstaking
intent etc. (attention) Attention
indefatigable etc. (persevering) Resolution .Existence
unwearied
unsleeping, never tired
plodding, hard-working etc. Exertion
businesslike, workaday. bustling
restless, restless as a hyena
fussy, fidgety, pottering
busy, busy as hen with one chicken. working, at work, on duty, in harness
up in arms
on one's legs, at call
up and doing, up and stirring. busy, occupied
hard at work, hard at it
up to one's ears in, full of business, busy as a bee, busy as a one-armed paperhanger. meddling etc. v.
meddlesome, pushing, officious, overofficious, intrigant. astir, stirring
agoing, afoot
on foot
in full swing
eventful
on the alert, c. (vigilant) Care [Vigilance.] .
Adverbs
actively etc. adj.
with life and spirit, with might and main etc. Exertion , with haste etc. Haste , with wings
full tilt
Int
be alive, look alive, look sharp!, move on, push on!, keep moving!, go ahead!, stir your stumps!, jaldi! , karo! , step lively!
Phrases
seize the day
the plot thickens
No sooner said than done etc. (early) Earliness
catch a weasel asleep
hard work in youth means soft rest in age
the busy hum of men" [Milton] .
Nouns
inactivity
inaction etc. Inaction
inertness etc. Physical Inertness
obstinacy etc. Obstinacy . lull etc. (cessation) [Change from action to rest.] Cessation
quiescence etc. Quiescence
rust, rustiness. idleness, remissness etc. adj.
sloth, indolence, indiligence
dawdling etc. v.. ergophobia, otiosity. dullness etc. adj.
languor
segnity, segnitude
lentor
sluggishness etc. (slowness) Slowness
procrastination etc. (delay) Lateness
torpor, torpidity, torpescence
stupor etc. (insensibility) Insensibility
somnolence
drowsiness etc. adj.
nodding etc. v.
oscitation, oscitancy
pandiculation, hypnotism, lethargy
statuvolence heaviness, heavy eyelids. sleep, slumber
sound sleep, heavy sleep, balmy sleep
Morpheus
Somnus
coma, trance, ecstasis, dream, hibernation, nap, doze, snooze, siesta, wink of sleep, forty winks, snore
hypnology. dull work
pottering
relaxation etc. (loosening) [Want of adhesion, nonadhesion, immiscibility.] Incoherence
Castle of Indolence. [Cause of inactivity] lullaby, sedative, tranquilizer, hypnotic, sleeping pill, relaxant, anaesthetic, general anaesthetic etc. Moderation
torpedo. [person who is inactive] idler, drone, droil, dawdle, mopus
dummy, sleeping partner
afternoon farmer
truant etc. (runaway) [Absence of pursuit.] Avoidance
bummer, loafer, goldbrick, goldbicker, lounger
lubber, lubbard
slow coach etc. (slow.) Slowness
opium eater, lotus eater
slug
lag, sluggard, slugabed
slumberer, dormouse, marmot
waiter on Providence
Verbs
be inactive etc. adj.
do nothing etc. Inaction
move slowly etc. Slowness
let the grass grow under one's feet
take one's time, dawdle, drawl, droil, lag, hang back, slouch
loll, lollop
lounge, poke, loaf, loiter
go to sleep over
sleep at one's post, take things as they come
lead an easy life, vegetate, swim with the stream, eat the bread of idleness
loll in the lap of luxury, loll in the lap of indolence
waste time, consume time, kill time, lose time
burn daylight, waste the precious hours. idle away time, trifle away time, fritter away time, fool away time
spend time in, take time in
peddle, piddle
potter, pudder, dabble, faddle fribble, fiddle-faddle
dally, dilly-dally. sleep, slumber, be asleep
hibernate
oversleep
sleep like a top, sleep like a log, sleep like a dormouse
sleep soundly, heavily
doze, drowze, snooze, nap
take a nap etc. n.
dream
snore one's best
settle to sleep, go to sleep, go off to sleep
doze off, drop off
fall asleep
drop asleep
close the eyes, seal up the eyes, seal up eyelids
weigh down the eyelids
get sleep, nod, yawn
go to bed, turn
get some z's, stack z's [Coll.] . languish, expend itself, flag, hang fire
relax. render idle etc. adj.
sluggardize
mitigate etc. Moderation .
Adjectives
inactive
motionless etc. Quiescence
unoccupied etc. (doing nothing) Inaction
unbusied. indolent, lazy, slothful, idle, lusk, remiss, slack, inert, torpid, sluggish, otiose, languid, supine, heavy, dull, leaden, lumpish
exanimate, soulless
listless
drony, dronish
lazy as Ludlam's dog. dilatory, laggard
lagging etc. v.
slow etc. Slowness
rusty, flagging
lackadaisical, maudlin, fiddle-faddle
pottering etc. v.
shilly-shally etc. (irresolute) Irresolution . sleeping, c. v.
asleep
fast asleep, dead asleep, sound asleep
in a sound sleep
sound as a top, dormant, comatose
in the arms of Morpheus, in the lap of Morpheus. sleepy, sleepful
dozy, drowsy, somnolent, torpescent, lethargic, lethargical
somnifacient
statuvolent, statuvolic
heavy, heavy with sleep
napping
somnific, somniferous
soporous, soporific, soporiferous
hypnotic
balmy, dreamy
unawakened, unawakened. sedative etc. Moderation .
Adverbs
inactively etc. adj.
at leisure etc. Leisure .
Phrases
the eyes begin to draw straws
bankrupt of life yet prodigal of ease" [Dryden]
idly busy rolls their world away" [Goldsmith]
the timely dew of sleep" [Milton]
thou driftest gently down the tides of sleep" [Longfellow]
tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep" [Young] .
Nouns
haste, urgency
despatch, dispatch
acceleration, spurt, spirt, forced march, rush, dash
speed, velocity etc. Velocity
precipitancy, precipitation, precipitousness etc. adj.
impetuosity
brusquerie
hurry, drive, scramble, bustle, fuss, fidget, flurry, flutter, splutter.
Verbs
haste, hasten
make haste, make a dash etc. n.
hurry on, dash on, whip on, push on, press on, press forward
hurry, skurry, scuttle along, barrel along, bundle on, dart to and fro, bustle, flutter, scramble
plunge, plunge headlong
dash off
rush etc. (violence) Violence
express. bestir oneself etc. (be active) Activity
lose no time, lose not a moment, lose not an instant
make short work of
make the best of one's time, make the best of one's way. be precipitate etc. adj.
jump at, be in haste, be in a hurry etc. n.
have no time, have not a moment to lose, have not a moment to spare
work against time. quicken etc. Velocity
accelerate, expedite, put on, precipitate, urge, whip
railroad.
Adjectives
hasty, hurried, brusque
scrambling, cursory, precipitate, headlong, furious, boisterous, impetuous, hotheaded
feverish, fussy
pushing. in haste, in a hurry etc. n.
in hot haste, in all haste
breathless, pressed for time, hard pressed, urgent.
Adverbs
with haste, with all haste, with breathless speed
in haste etc. adj.
apace etc. (swiftly) Velocity
amain
all at once etc. (instantaneously) [Point of time] Instantaneity
at short notice etc.
immediately etc. (early) Earliness
posthaste
by cable, by express, by telegraph, by forced marches. hastily, precipitately etc. adj.
helter-skelter, hurry-skurry, holus-bolus
slapdash, slap-bang
full-tilt, full drive
heels over head, head and shoulders, headlong, by spurts
hop skip and jump.
Phrases
[panic] sauve qui peut [Fr.] , every man for himself [Fr.Tr.] , devil take the hindmost, no time to be lost
no sooner said than done etc. (early) Earliness
a word and a blow
haste makes waste
[Goethe's motto]
stand not upon the order of your going but go at stand not upon the order of your going but go at once" [Macbeth]
swift, swift, you dragons of the night" [Cymbeline] .
Nouns
leisure
convenience
spare time, spare hours, spare moments
vacant hour
time, time to spare, time on one's hands
holiday, relaxation etc. (rest) Repose
ease. no hurry
no big rush
no deadline.
Verbs
have leisure etc. n.
take one's time, take one's leisure, take one's ease
repose etc. Repose
move slowly etc. Slowness
while away the time etc. (inaction) Inaction
be master of one's time, be an idle man.
Adjectives
leisure, leisurely
slow etc. Slowness
deliberate, quiet, calm, undisturbed
at leisure, at one's ease, at loose ends, at a loose end.
Adverbs
unhurriedly, deliberately, without undue haste
anytime.
Phrases
time hanging heavy on one's hands
Nouns
exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt
stroke of work, stitch of work. a strong pull a long pull and a pull all a strong pull a long pull and a pull all together
" dead lift
heft
gymnastics
exercise, exercitation
wear and tear
ado
toil and trouble
uphill work, hard work, warm work
harvest time. labor, work, toil, travail, manual labor, sweat of one's brow, swink, drudgery, slavery, fagging, hammering
industry, industriousness, operoseness, operosity. trouble, pains, duty
resolution etc. Resolution
energy etc. (physical) Physical Energy .
Verbs
exert oneself
exert one's energies, tax one's energies
use exertion. labor, work, toil, moil, sweat, fag, drudge, slave, drag a lengthened chain, wade through, strive, stretch a long arm
pull, tug, ply
ply the oar, tug at the oar
do the work
take the laboring oar bestir oneself (be active) Activity
take trouble, trouble oneself. work hard
rough it
put forth one's strength, put forth a strong arm
fall to work, bend the bow
buckle to, set one's shoulder to the wheel etc. (resolution) Resolution
work like a horse, work like a cart horse, work like a galley slave, work like a coal heaver
labor day and night, work day and night
redouble one's efforts
do double duty
work double hours, work double tides
sit up, burn the candle at both ends
stick to etc. (persevere) Resolution .Existence
work one's way, fight one's way, lay about one, hammer at. take pains
do one's best, do one's level best, do one's utmost
give one hundred percent, do the best one can, do all one can, do all in one's power, do as much as in one lies, do what lies in one's power
use one's best endeavor, use one's utmost endeavor
try one's best, try one's utmost
play one's best card
put one's best leg foremost, put one's right leg foremost
have one's whole soul in his work, put all one's strength into, strain every nerve
spare no efforts, spare no pains
go all lengths
go through fire and water etc. (resolution) Resolution
move heaven and earth, leave no stone unturned.
Adjectives
laboring etc. v.. laborious, operose, elaborate
strained
toilsome, troublesome, wearisome
uphill
herculean, gymnastic, palestric. hard-working, painstaking
strenuous, energetic. hard at work, on the stretch.
Adverbs
laboriously etc. adj.
lustily
with might and main, with all one's might, with a strong hand, with a sledge hammer, with much ado
to the best of one's abilities, tooth and nail, hammer and tongs, heart and soul
through thick and thin etc. (perseverance) Resolution .Existence . by the sweat of one's brow, suo Marte.
Phrases
and still be doing, never done" [Butler]
it is better to wear out than to rust out" [Bp. Hornel]
labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven" [Carlyle]
Nouns
repose, rest, silken repose
sleep etc. Inactivity . relaxation, breathing time
halt, stay, pause etc. (cessation) [Change from action to rest.] Cessation
respite. day of rest, dies non, Sabbath, Lord's day, holiday, red-letter day, vacation, recess.
Verbs
repose
rest, rest and be thankful
take a rest, take one's ease, take it easy. relax, unbend, slacken
take breath etc. (refresh) Refreshment
rest upon one's oars
pause etc. (cease) [Change from action to rest.] Cessation
stay one's hand. lie down
recline, recline on a bed of down, recline on an easy chair
go to rest, go to bed, go to sleep etc. Inactivity . take a holiday, shut up shop
lie fallow etc. (inaction) Inaction .
Adjectives
reposing etc. v. [of people]
relaxed etc. v.
unstrained. [of materials and people] unstressed.
Phrases
The best of men have ever loved repose" [Thompson]
to repair our nature with comforting repose" [Henry VIII] .
Nouns
fatigue
weariness etc. Weariness
yawning, drowsiness etc. Inactivity
lassitude, tiredness, fatigation, exhaustion
sweat
dyspnoea. anhelation, shortness of breath
faintness
collapse, prostration, swoon, fainting, syncope, lipothymy
goneness.
Verbs
be fatigued etc. adj.
yawn etc. (get sleepy) Inactivity
droop, sink, flag
lose breath, lose wind
gasp, pant, puff, blow, drop, swoon, faint, succumb. fatigue, tire, weary, irk, flag, jade, harass, exhaust, knock up, wear out, prostrate. tax, task, strain
overtask, overwork, overburden, overtax, overstrain.
Adjectives
fatigued, tired etc. v.
weary etc. Weariness
drowsy etc. Inactivity
drooping etc. v.
haggard
toilworn, wayworn:, footsore, surbated, weather-beaten
faint
done up, used up, knocked up
bushed [U.S.]
exhausted, prostrate, spent
overtired, overspent, overfatigued
unrefreshed, unrestored. worn, worn out
battered, shattered, pulled down, seedy, altered. breathless, windless
short of breath, out of breath, short of wind
blown, puffing and blowing
short-breathed
anhelose
broken winded, short-winded
dyspnaeal, dyspnaeic. ready to drop, all in, more dead than alive, dog-weary, walked off one's legs, tired to death, on one's last legs, played out
tiresome, irksome, wearisome
weary, trying.
Nouns
bracing etc. v.
recovery of strength, recuperation etc. [Degree of power.] Strength
restoration, revival etc. Restoration
repair, refection, refocillation, refreshment, regalement, bait
relief etc. Relief . break, spell. refreshment stand
refreshments
[Refreshments] , ice cream, cold soda, soda pop, hot dogs (food) .
Verbs
brace etc. (strengthen) [Degree of power.] Strength
reinvigorate
air, freshen up, refresh, recruit
repair etc. (restore) Restoration
fan, refocillate
refresh the inner man. breathe, respire
drink in the ozone
take a break, take a breather, take five, draw breath, take a deep breath, take breath, gather breath, take a long breath, regain breath, recover breath
get better, raise one's head
recover one's strength, regain one's strength, renew one's strength etc. [Degree of power.] Strength
perk up, get one's second wind. come to oneself etc. (revive) Restoration
feel refreshed, feel like a giant refreshed.
Adjectives
refreshing etc. v.
recuperative etc. Restoration . refreshed etc. v.
untired, unwearied.
Nouns
doer, actor, agent, performer, perpetrator, operator
executor, executrix
practitioner, worker, stager. bee, ant, working bee, termite, white ant
laboring oar, servant of all work, factotum. workman, artisan
craftsman, handicraftsman
mechanic, operative
working man
laboring man
demiurgus, hewers of wood and drawers of water, laborer, navvy
hand, man, day laborer, journeyman, charwoman, hack
mere tool etc. Instrument
beast of burden, drudge, fag
lumper, roustabout. maker, artificer, artist, wright, manufacturer, architect, builder, mason, bricklayer, smith, forger, Vulcan
carpenter
ganger, platelayer
blacksmith, locksmith, sailmaker, wheelwright. machinist, mechanician, engineer. sempstress, semstress, seamstress
needlewoman, workwoman
tailor, cordwainer. minister etc. (instrument) Instrumentality
servant etc. Servant
representative etc. (commissioner) Consignee , (deputy) Deputy . coworker, party to, participator in
personnel.
Nouns
workshop, workhouse, workplace, shop, place of business
manufactory, mill, plant, works, factory
cabinet, studio
office, branch office bureau, atelier. [specific types of workplace: list] , hive, hive of industry
nursery
hothouse, hotbed
kitchen
mint, forge, loom
dock, dockyard
alveary
armory
laboratory, lab, research institute
refinery
cannery
power plant
beauty parlor
beehive, bindery, forcing pit, nailery, usine, slip, yard, wharf
foundry, foundery
furnace
vineyard
crucible, alembic, caldron, matrix.
Adjectives
at work, at the office, at the shop
working.