act

Nouns

  • (n) a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body enactment,
  • (n) something that people do or cause to happen human action, human activity, deed,
  • (n) a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
  • (n) a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
    • he did his act three times every evening
    • she had a catchy little routine
    • it was one of the best numbers he ever did
    routine, number, bit, turn,
  • (n) a manifestation of insincerity
    • he put on quite an act for her benefit

Verbs

  • (v) perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
    • think before you act
    • We must move quickly
    • The governor should act on the new energy bill
    • The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel
    move,
  • (v) behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
    • You should act like an adult
    • Don't behave like a fool
    • What makes her do this way?
    • The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people
    behave, do,
  • (v) play a role or part
    • Gielgud played Hamlet
    • She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
    • She played the servant to her husband's master
    play, represent,
  • (v) discharge one's duties
    • She acts as the chair
    • In what capacity are you acting?
  • (v) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
    • He acted the idiot
    • She plays deaf when the news are bad
    act as, play,
  • (v) be suitable for theatrical performance
    • This scene acts well
  • (v) have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
    • The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
    • How does your idea work in practice?
    • This method doesn't work
    • The breaks of my new car act quickly
    • The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
    work,
  • (v) be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
  • (v) behave unnaturally or affectedly
    • She's just acting
    pretend, dissemble,
  • (v) perform on a stage or theater
    • She acts in this play
    • He acted in "Julius Caesar"
    • I played in "A Christmas Carol"
    playact, roleplay, play,

Synonyms

enactment move human action human activity deed behave do play represent routine number bit turn act as work pretend dissemble playact roleplay

Antonyms

refrain forbear

See also

act on follow up on pursue act up carry on act upon influence work

Words of close approximity

ACC ace
AA AB AC A.D. ad A.E. Ag AI AK AL a.m. AM AN AR AS at AU Av ax AZ
AAA aah Aar AAS aba ABB ABC ABM Abo ABS aby ACC ace ADA ADD ade ADH ado ADP adz AEC AFL AFP aft Aga age ago aid ail aim ain air Aix a.k.a. Aku ala alb ale Ali all alp ALS ALT AMD amp ana ane ANG ani ANO ANS ant Anu any APC ape Apr apt Ara arb arc are ark arm Arp art ash ask ASL asp ass Ate ATF ATM ATP AUC Aug auk Aum avo awe awl awn axe Ayr azo AZT
actable Actaea Actaea alba Actaea rubra act as ACTH Actias Actias luna Actifed actin actinal Actinaria acting acting out actinia actinian Actiniaria actiniarian actinic actinic dermatitis actinic keratosis actinic radiation actinic ray actinide actinide series Actinidia Actinidia arguta Actinidiaceae Actinidia chinensis Actinidia deliciosa Actinidia polygama Actiniopteris actinism actinium actinoid actinolite Actinomeris Actinomeris alternifolia actinometer actinometric actinometrical actinometry actinomorphic actinomorphous actinomyces Actinomycetaceae actinomycetal Actinomycetales actinomycete actinomycetous actinomycin actinomycosis actinomycotic Actinomyxidia actinomyxidian actinon actinopod Actinopoda actinotherapy Actinozoa actinozoan act involuntarily action actionable action at law action mechanism action officer action painting action plant action potential action replay action spectrum Actitis Actitis hypoleucos Actitis macularia Actium Activase activate activated activated carbon activated charcoal activating activating agent activation activation energy activator active active agent active air defense active application active birth active citizen active immunity actively active matrix screen activeness active placebo active site active transport active trust