pre-action

adjective

Before an action takes place, especially a legal action.

Opposite
post-action
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Meanings

adjectivepre-action (not comparable)
  1. not comparableBefore an action takes place, especially a legal action.

    He concludes: "This letter is written in contemplation of legal proceedings, and is a pre-action protocol letter within the meaning of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998."

    2020 December 2, Barry Doe, “National Rail Timetable changes and reductions”, in Rail, page 73

    Antonyms: post-action

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveBefore an action takes place, especially a legal action.

Opposite
post-action

Origin

From pre- + action.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pre-action. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-action

MLA

“pre-action.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-action. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pre-action,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pre-action.

Source: pre-action on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.