activity
noun
ac·tiv·i·ty
ak-ˈti-və-tē 
plural activities
1
2
: vigorous or energetic action : liveliness
a scene of excitement and activity
3
: natural or normal function: such as
a
: a process (such as digestion) that an organism carries on or participates in by virtue of being alive
b
: a similar process actually or potentially involving mental function
specifically
: an educational procedure designed to stimulate learning by firsthand experience
4
: an active force
5
a
: a pursuit in which a person is active
business activities
social activities
b
: a form of organized, supervised, often extracurricular recreation
The camp offers hiking, swimming, and other activities.
6
: an organizational unit for performing a specific function
also
: its function or duties
the restaurant inspection activity of the health department
Examples of activity in a Sentence
The holidays always set off a lot of activity in our home.
the sexual activity of married couples
The police are now monitoring criminal activity in the area.
She gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
The instruments are used to detect volcanic activity on the island.
We planned an activity for the children.
Recent Examples on the Web
The survey included questions about food quality, care respectfulness, safety, transportation, enrichment activities and more.
—
Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The festival’s first day is dedicated to wellness and arts, with activities like yoga, dance, and soundbaths.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The argument really is, for what the state put out, what did that lead to in terms of economic activity in New Jersey?
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
Tehran has routinely accused Israel of attacks and sabotage activities targeting its nuclear and military sites in the past, including in Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Ozone levels are generally highest in the afternoon, so consider rescheduling activities and taking more breaks.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
How to See the 2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower The full 2024 Lyrid meteor shower runs from April 14 to 30, with peak activity striking between the Sunday and Monday night, according to The Planetary Society.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
April's full moon has been given lots of other names—like fish moon and sprouting grass moon, for instance—depending on Mother Nature's activities in various regions of the country.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
Explore and learn at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Earth Day celebration, which will incorporate fun activities dedicated to honoring and preserving our planet.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The festival’s first day is dedicated to wellness and arts, with activities like yoga, dance, and soundbaths.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The argument really is, for what the state put out, what did that lead to in terms of economic activity in New Jersey?
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
Tehran has routinely accused Israel of attacks and sabotage activities targeting its nuclear and military sites in the past, including in Isfahan.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Ozone levels are generally highest in the afternoon, so consider rescheduling activities and taking more breaks.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
How to See the 2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower The full 2024 Lyrid meteor shower runs from April 14 to 30, with peak activity striking between the Sunday and Monday night, according to The Planetary Society.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
April's full moon has been given lots of other names—like fish moon and sprouting grass moon, for instance—depending on Mother Nature's activities in various regions of the country.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
Explore and learn at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Earth Day celebration, which will incorporate fun activities dedicated to honoring and preserving our planet.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'activity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near activity
Cite this Entry
“Activity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activity. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
activity
noun
ac·tiv·i·ty
ak-ˈtiv-ət-ē
plural activities
1
: the quality or state of being active
2
: forceful or energetic action
3
: a natural, normal, or assigned function: as
a
: a process that an organism carries on or participates in by virtue of being alive
b
: a similar process that involves or is capable of involving mental function
4
: an educational exercise designed to teach by firsthand experience
5
: an active force
solar activity
6
a
: something done especially for relaxation or fun
b
: a form of organized recreation
Medical Definition
activity
noun
ac·tiv·i·ty
ak-ˈtiv-ət-ē
plural activities
1
: natural or normal function: as
a
: a process (as digestion) that an organism carries on or participates in by virtue of being alive
b
: a similar process actually or potentially involving mental function
specifically
: an educational procedure designed to stimulate learning by firsthand experience
2
: the characteristic of acting chemically or of promoting a chemical reaction
the activity of a catalyst
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