act

[ akt ]

/ ækt /

noun

anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.

the process of doing: caught in the act.

a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award: an act of Congress.

an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.

one of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.

a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.

the personnel of such a group: The act broke up after 30 years.

false show; pretense; feint: The politician's pious remarks were all an act.

Philosophy. (in scholasticism)

activity in process; operation.
the principle or power of operation.
form as determining essence.
a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.

verb (used without object)

to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative: He acted promptly in the emergency.

to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter: I am required to act before noon tomorrow.

to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions: to act as manager.

to produce an effect; perform a function: The medicine failed to act.

to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.

to pretend; feign: Act interested even if you're bored.

to perform as an actor: He acted in three plays by Molière.

to be capable of being performed: His plays don't act well.

to serve or substitute (usually followed by for): In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.

verb (used with object)

to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person: to act Macbeth.

to feign; counterfeit: to act outraged virtue.

to behave as: He acted the fool.

Obsolete. to actuate.

Verb Phrases

act on/upon,

to act in accordance with; follow: He acted on my advice.
to have an effect on; affect: The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.

act out,

to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures: The party guests acted out stories for one another.
Psychology. to give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding: The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.

act up,

to fail to function properly; malfunction: The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
to behave willfully: The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
to become painful or troublesome, especially after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.

get/have one's act together, Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently: The new administration is still getting its act together.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for act

act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.

act one's age, to behave in a manner appropriate to one's maturity: We children enjoyed our uncle because he didn't always act his age.

clean up one's act, Informal. to begin adhering to more acceptable practices, rules of behavior, etc.: The factory must clean up its act and treat its employees better.

Origin of act

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English act(e) (from Middle French), from Latin ācta, plural of āctum “something done,” noun use of past participle of agere “to do” (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly from Latin āctus “a doing” (āg- + -tus suffix of verbal action)

SYNONYMS FOR act

1 feat, exploit; achievement; transaction; accomplishment.

4 record.

6 turn, routine.

10–13 perform, function, work. play. 19, 21 play.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR act ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for act

1. See action.

OTHER WORDS FROM act

mis·act, verb (used without object)post·act, nounpre·act, verb (used with object)un·act·ed, adjective

well-act·ed, adjective

Words nearby act

acrylic fibre, acrylic resin, acrylonitrile, acrylyl, acrylyl group, act, act call, act curtain, act of contrition, act of faith, act of god

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for act one's age (1 of 3)

ACT¹

abbreviation for

Australian Capital Territory

(formerly in Britain) advance corporation tax

British Dictionary definitions for act one's age (2 of 3)

ACT²

/ (ækt) /

n acronym for

(in New Zealand) Association of Consumers and Taxpayers: a small political party of the right

British Dictionary definitions for act one's age (3 of 3)

act

/ (ækt) /

noun

something done or performed; a deed

the performance of some physical or mental process; action

(capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc

(often plural) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body

a major division of a dramatic work

a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment
those giving such a performance

an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress

philosophy an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determinedCompare event (def. 4)

verb

(intr) to do something; carry out an action

(intr) to function in a specified way; operate; reacthis mind acted quickly

to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc

(tr) to present (a play, etc) on stage

(intr; usually foll by for or as) to be a substitute (for); function in place (of)

(intr foll by as) to serve the function or purpose (of)the glass acted as protection

(intr) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were)she usually acts like a lady

(intr) to behave in an unnatural or affected way

(copula) to pose as; play the part ofto act the fool

(copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age)

(copula) not standard to seem or pretend to beto act tired

clean up one's act to start to behave in a responsible manner

get in on the act informal to become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits

get one's act together informal to become organized or prepared

Derived forms of act

actable, adjectiveactability, noun

Word Origin for act

C14: from Latin actus a doing, performance, and actum a thing done, from the past participle of agere to do

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with act one's age (1 of 2)

act one's age

Behave more maturely. Although the phrase often is used in asking children to act in a more grown-up fashion (Only babies suck their thumbs; act your age), it also may refer to an adult who is, sometimes deliberately, acting much younger than might be considered appropriate (Grandpa, it's time you stopped climbing ladders and acted your age).

Idioms and Phrases with act one's age (2 of 2)

act

In addition to the idioms beginning with act

act of faith
act of God
act on
act one's age
act out
act up
act upon

also see:

catch in the act
clean up (one's act)
do a disappearing act
get in the act
get one's act together
hard (tough) act to follow
high-wire act
in the act of
put on an act

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act