Activity refers to actions or tasks that involve exertion or engagement, often in organized routines, hobbies, or work. It can describe a state of ongoing action or the degree of energy and involvement someone shows in a given situation. In everyday use, it also denotes events or pursuits that people participate in or monitor for progress or productivity.
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"Her daily activity includes cycling, swimming, and yoga."
"The safety briefing covered emergency procedures during the activity."
"Researchers tracked physical activity levels over several months."
"The team analyzed market activity to predict trends."
The word activity comes from the French activité, from Latin activitas, from actus, meaning ‘a doing, a thing done,’ with the suffix -itas forming nouns of quality or state. English borrowed activity in the 15th century via Old French and Latin roots. The root act- means ‘to do’ or ‘to drive,’ found in many related terms like active, actor, and action. The evolution shifted from a general sense of “doing” to more specific uses: in philosophy and science (the state of being active), in everyday life (chores, work, hobbies), and in psychology and business to describe measurable engagement or energy expenditure. The term’s sense broadened with modern contexts like physical activity, civic activity, and social activity, often paired with adjectives that specify domain, intensity, or duration. First known uses appear in Middle English texts discussing deeds and actions, while more formal senses developed in the 17th–19th centuries as disciplines like physiology and economics began quantifying activity in terms of motion, productivity, and behavioral patterns.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "activity" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "activity" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "activity"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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It’s /ˈæk.tɪ.və.ti/ in US and UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable: AC-ti-vi-ty. The middle syllable reduces to a schwa /ə/; final -ty becomes /ti/ in careful speech but often softer as /ti/ or /tɪ/ in connected speech. Mouth positions: start with a bright front vowel /æ/ with open jaw, then /t/ inflates briefly, then a lax /ɪ/ for the second syllable, a central /ə/ for the third, and final /ti/. An audio example you can reference is Pronounce or Cambridge dictionary audio for /ˈæk.tɪ.və.ti/.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the first syllable stress, saying ‘ac-TIV-uh-tee’ or ‘act-iv-i-ty’ with mis-stress; keep primary stress on /ˈæk/. 2) Over-pronouncing the second syllable as /tɪ/ or /ti/ with a strong vowel; in fast speech it’s often reduced to /tə/ or /tɪ/. 3) Not finishing with /ti/; sometimes speakers end with /ti/ but let it blend into the next word; ensure a crisp final /ti/ or /tɪ/ depending on pace. Practice tight transitions between /t/ and schwa, and then to /ti/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈæk.tɪ.və.ti/ but reductions vary. US tends to a clearer final /ti/ with less vowel reduction in connected speech; UK often maintains slightly crisper /tɪ/ in the second syllable and can display a more centralized schwa /ə/ in the third syllable; Australian tends toward slightly broader vowel qualities and may reduce the final /ti/ to /tɪ/ in rapid speech. Across all, primary stress remains on the first syllable; rhotics are typically not pronounced post-vocalically in UK/AU.
Difficult due to multi-syllabic structure with several quick, unstressed segments: /ˈæk.tɪ.və.ti/ repeats vowel shifts and a final unstressed -ty. The central /ə/ in the third syllable blends with the following /t/ and /i/, making the boundary subtle. Non-native speakers often misplace stress or over-pronounce the second or third syllable, leading to a labored rhythm. Practicing light, even consonants, precise /t/ articulation, and clear schwa can help stabilize rhythm and sequence.
The word carries a stress on the first syllable but quickly moves through less emphasized vowels. A unique challenge is the transition from a light, dental /t/ to a short /ɪ/ and then a central /ə/, followed by a final /ti/ cluster. Focusing on the smooth glide into the final /ti/ and ensuring the /t/ is a clean, aspirated stop in careful speech will yield a natural cadence. Pay attention to the four-syllable rhythm: AC-ti-vi-ty, keeping each segment compact.
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