activity
activity — noun
1. a state of busy motion in a place, with many people moving about or many things
a state of busy motion in a place, with many people moving about or many things going on at once.
The Tokyo train station was full of activity during the morning rush.
be full of activity (location filled with motion)
Nikolai could hear plenty of activity in the kitchen as the chefs prepared dinner.
plenty of activity + in [place]
There was little activity on the quiet beach that cold winter afternoon.
Police noticed unusual activity outside the bank just before closing time.
Birdwatchers tracked the activity around the nest using a small camera.
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense and often paired with quantifiers like 'a lot of', 'plenty of', 'little', or 'no'. Distinguish from sense 3 (countable, an organised event); here it is the general bustle of a scene, not a single thing you do.
常見錯誤
2. the things a group, company, or government does together to reach a goal — for e
the things a group, company, or government does together to reach a goal — for example, a charity's fundraising work, or a political party's campaign.
The charity's activities focus on helping homeless families find safe housing.
[organisation]'s activities focus on
The company expanded its business activity into three new countries last year.
business activity (uncountable)
Police are investigating criminal activity linked to the warehouse on Main Street.
Volunteer activities at our school include cleaning the park and teaching computer skills.
The government has limited the trade union's activities since the new law passed.
- operation
more formal; often used for large-scale or business work
- work
more general; can apply to individuals or groups
- undertaking
formal; suggests a specific large project
- inactivity
lack of organised effort
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective naming the field: 'business activity', 'criminal activity', 'political activity', 'terrorist activity'. Subject is typically an organisation, company, or government rather than an individual.
常見錯誤
3. a planned thing you do for fun, exercise, or learning — such as a hike, a craft
a planned thing you do for fun, exercise, or learning — such as a hike, a craft session, or a sports class.
Swimming and painting are Lily's favourite activities at summer camp.
favourite activities + at [event]
The hotel offers free outdoor activities like kayaking and rock climbing every morning.
outdoor activities like [examples]
After-school activities at our school include chess club, drama, and football.
Grandma chose a quiet activity for the children — drawing pictures of the garden.
Hiking is a healthy activity for the whole family on weekends.
用法筆記
Usually countable and commonly plural. Frequently preceded by a setting word: 'after-school activities', 'outdoor activities', 'extracurricular activities', 'leisure activities'. Distinguish from sense 1: here each activity is one thing you can list and choose to do.