act
16 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
acts
plural
acts
Britannica Dictionary definition of ACT
1
[count]
:
something that is done
—
see also sex act
-
His first official act [=action] as President was to sign the bill.
-
We were grateful for her many acts of kindness.
-
an act of bravery = a brave act
-
criminal/illegal/unlawful/wrongful acts
◊ An act of God is a natural event (such as a storm or earthquake) that cannot be controlled by people.
-
The company cannot be held responsible in cases of bad weather or other acts of God.
2
[count]
:
a law made by a group of legislators
-
The program was created by (an) act of Congress/Parliament.
-
legislative acts
-
the Civil Rights Act of 1964
3
[count]
:
one of the main divisions of a play or opera
-
Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
-
In the first/opening act, two characters are talking in a restaurant.
-
a play in three acts = a three-act play
4
[count]
a
:
one of the performances in a show
-
a circus/magic act
b
:
a show that a person or group performs often
-
He has a great stand-up/comedy act. [=routine]
-
She took her act on the road. [=she traveled and performed her act in different places]
c
:
a person or group that performs in shows
—
see also class act, a hard/tough act to follow at follow
-
a two-person comedy act from New York City
-
The band was one of this summer's most successful live acts.
◊ A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time.
-
It's a difficult balancing act, but many students hold full-time jobs while attending school.
-
Working and raising children can be a real juggling act for parents.
5
[singular]
:
a way of behaving that is not honest or sincere
-
He said he was sorry, but I realize now that it was all just an act.
-
He wasn't really sorry. He was just putting on an act.
clean up your act
get into the act
or get in on the act
:
to start to participate in an activity
-
We started selling them last year, and now other stores are getting into the act. [=now other stores are also selling them]
get your act together
in the act (of doing something)
:
while doing something
-
When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner.
-
He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank.
2
act
/ˈækt/
verb
acts;
acted;
acting
2
act
/ˈækt/
verb
acts;
acted;
acting
Britannica Dictionary definition of ACT
1
[no object]
:
to do something
:
to take action
-
Think before you act.
-
He knew he had to act quickly/fast.
-
The government was slow to act.
-
The firefighters acted with great courage. = They acted courageously.
-
She acted on behalf of her father, who was not at the meeting.
-
I believe that the killer acted alone.
-
She had acted in self-defense when she killed her attacker.
-
We were acting in the best interests of our children.
-
If he refuses to cooperate, he'll be acting against his own (best) interests. [=he'll be acting in a way that is harmful to himself]
-
We must act soon to end this crisis.
2
[no object]
:
to behave in a particular way
—
see also 2act 3c (below)
-
She learned at an early age how to act properly in social situations.
-
People are always telling me how I should act and what I should say.
-
I noticed that the dog was acting funny/differently/strangely this morning.
-
acting more naturally/aggressively/responsibly
-
She's been acting kind of crazy lately.
-
Please learn the new rules and act accordingly. [=follow the new rules]
◊ To act the part is to behave the way that people in a particular role usually behave.
-
Now that he's rich he certainly acts the part. [=behaves like a rich person]
◊ To act your age is to behave the way that people your age should behave and not to behave like a younger person.
-
John, act your age. You're not a kid anymore.
◊ To act like a particular kind of person or thing is to behave the way that person or thing behaves.
-
You two are acting like children.
-
It's time you start acting like a man.
-
I'm sorry about yesterday. I acted like a fool/jerk.
3
a
[no object]
:
to behave in a way that is not sincere or honest
-
Stop acting. We know you're guilty.
b
[linking verb]
:
to pretend to be something
-
Stop acting innocent.
-
She was terribly nervous, but she acted confident.
-
I know you're bored, but can you at least try to act interested.
-
He did his best to act excited.
-
There she goes, offering advice and acting the expert. [=pretending to be an expert]
-
If anybody asks you where I am, act dumb. [=pretend that you do not know]
c
[no object]
:
to pretend that something is true
— usually used in the phrases act as if, act as though, and (chiefly US) act like
—
see also act like at 2act 2 (above)
-
She acted as if nothing had happened.
-
We acted as though we knew what was going on.
-
I tried to act like it didn't bother me, but it did.
-
Even if you don't like your gift, you should act like you do.
-
I didn't act like it, but I really was happy.
4
:
to perform the words and actions of a character in a play, movie, etc.
:
to perform as an actor
[no object]
-
It had always been his dream to act.
-
She can sing, dance, and act.
-
As a child, she began acting in television commercials.
-
Both actors have agreed to act in the movie.
[+ object]
-
He'll be acting the part of Romeo in tonight's play.
-
The role of Romeo was wonderfully acted by Mr. Jacob Smith.
-
a beautifully acted movie [=a movie in which the acting is excellent]
5
[no object]
:
to do the work of a particular kind of person or thing
:
to perform a certain function or role
— + as
-
A young man acted [=served] as our guide through the city.
-
She'll be acting as her own attorney during the court trial.
-
She agreed to act as his secretary.
-
The trees act as a source of shade and protection from the wind.
6
[no object]
:
to make something happen
:
to have a particular effect
— often + on
—
see also act on/upon (below)
-
The chemical acts [=works] by destroying the cells in the brain.
-
These medicines act on [=affect] the heart.
act on/upon
[phrasal verb]
act on/upon (something)
:
to use (something, such as a feeling or suggestion) as a reason or basis for doing something
—
see also 2act 6 (above)
-
They never acted on the information they had.
-
We were too late to act upon his suggestion.
-
It's okay to feel angry or jealous, but you mustn't act on those feelings.
act out
[phrasal verb]
1
a
:
to behave badly especially because you are feeling painful emotions (such as fear or anger)
-
What can parents do when their kids start acting out?
b
act out (something)
or
act (something) out
:
to show that you are feeling (a painful emotion) by acting in ways that are not good or acceptable
-
children acting out their emotions in inappropriate ways
-
He tries not to act out his anger/frustrations.
2
act out (something)
or
act (something) out
a
:
to perform (a play, a character in a movie, etc.)
-
plays acted out on stage
-
She skillfully acted out the role of a young queen.
b
:
to do and say the things that happen in (a movie, past event, etc.)
-
At their last party, they acted out [=reenacted] scenes from old movies.
-
The children were acting out what they saw on television.
-
adults acting out their childhood dreams/fantasies [=doing the things they wanted to do when they were children]
act the fool
act up
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to behave badly
:
to act in a way that is not polite or acceptable
-
The kids are acting up [=misbehaving] again.
-
The book gives advice to parents whose children act up.
2
of a machine
:
to not work properly
-
The camera started acting up [=malfunctioning] after I dropped it.
3
of a disease
:
to become worse and to start causing pain or physical problems
-
His asthma acts up when it's cold outside.
-
Whenever it rains, my arthritis starts acting up.
