act on

verb

1. to regulate one's behaviour in accordance with (advice, information, etc)

2. to have an effect on (illness, a part of the body, etc)

Idioms and Phrases

Also, act upon . Conduct oneself in accordance with or as a result of information or another action, as in I will act on my lawyer's advice , or The manager refused to act upon the hotel guest's complaints . [c. 1800]

Influence or affect, as in The baby's fussing acted on the sitter's nerves . [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

The search for excitement, competition, and instant gratification has always been part of human nature, but technology has made those impulses faster, louder, and easier to act on.

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"Learning to find and act on these pockets of control in daily life may not only reduce stress but also support long-term health and well-being."

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The immigration agency said it acted on a lawfully issued order.

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The committee will need to approve the reports before they can be acted on by the full council, he said in a brief statement.

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"Other medications designed to help reduce alcohol intake" -- naltrexone and acamprosate -- "act on the central nervous system," said DiFeliceantonio, the study's corresponding author.

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Related Words

• pursue