Signified? Not in action (7)
I believe the answer is:
denoted
'signified?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'not in action' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'action' becomes 'deed' (deed is a kind of action).
'not' put inside 'deed' is 'DENOTED'.
(Other definitions for denoted that I've seen before include "Indicated or meant" , "Signified" .)