act
1. [ verb ] perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
Synonyms: move
Examples:

"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"

Related terms: refrain try continue go take wait play react prosecute participate perform deal end_up perpetrate volunteer make_bold dare take_care cope attack rush set_about do_well create effect go_ahead make_a_point use anticipate interrupt woo get_around_to follow_through prosecute continue come_close repeat behave antagonize alternate interact act_on react behave come_to_the_fore force condescend exert surprise play sneak guard continue begin condescend misbehave dispatch maneuver go_off_at_half-cock satisfice reciprocate egotrip reward court play_out use race rampage condescend play_it_by_ear take_time_by_the_forelock stampede lord_it_over evade dally coact partner influence pursue act_up move action
2. [ noun ] (law,writing) a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
Synonyms: enactment
Related terms: legal_document legislative_act decree law
3. [ noun ] something that people do or cause to happen
Synonyms: human_action human_activity
Related terms: action activity production communication judgment radioactivity distribution forfeit rejection hindrance stop stay residency group_action arrest wear waste legitimation assumption motivating speech_act proclamation leaning inactivity laughter nonaccomplishment motivate trip
4. [ verb ] behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
Synonyms: behave do
Examples:

"You should act like an adult" "Don't behave like a fool" "What makes her do this way?" "She played the servant her husband's master"

Related terms: make swell ramp break_down play joke romanticize sentimentalise act_involuntarily swagger dally quack loosen_up stooge piffle vulgarise make make_as_if optimize bungle freeze frivol backslap hugger_mugger sauce footle bend_over_backwards follow presume wanton menace act_up dissemble
5. [ noun ] (theater,writing) a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
Related terms: dramatic_composition play opera ballet scene
6. [ verb ] (theater) play a role or part
Synonyms: play represent
Examples:

"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"

Related terms: re-create enact impersonate spoof act_out make masquerade support emote performing_arts play actor play acting theatrical_performance
7. [ verb ] (work) discharge one's duties
Examples:

"She acts as the chair" "In what capacity are you acting?"

Related terms: serve criticise bank actor
8. [ noun ] (theater,performing arts) a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
Synonyms: number routine bit turn
Examples:

"he did his act three times every evening" "she had a catchy little routine" "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"

Related terms: performance show-stopper
9. [ verb ] pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
Synonyms: play act_as
Examples:

"He acted the idiot" "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

10. [ verb ] be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
Related terms: play drive_around walk_around action
11. [ verb ] (theater,performing arts) perform on a stage or theater
Synonyms: roleplay playact play
Examples:

"She acts in this play" "He acted in "Julius Caesar" "I played in "A Christmas Carol"

Related terms: perform mime stooge underact overact dramaturgy play play play roleplaying actor acting barnstormer
12. [ verb ] behave unnaturally or affectedly
Synonyms: pretend dissemble
Examples:

"She's just acting"

Related terms: simulate
13. [ verb ] (theater) be suitable for theatrical performance
Examples:

: "This scene acts well"

Related terms: be
14. [ verb ] have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
Synonyms: work
Examples:

"The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought" "This method doesn't work" "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"

Related terms: succeed bring
15. [ noun ] a manifestation of insincerity
Examples:

"he put on quite an act for her benefit"

Related terms: expression dissemble
16. [ noun ] (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents
Synonyms: process cognitive_operation operation mental_process cognitive_process
Examples:

"the process of thinking" "the cognitive operation of remembering"

Related terms: cognition basic_cognitive_process higher_cognitive_process psychology
Similar spelling:   ACTH
  acute
  Aceto
  acuity
  acuate
  Actaea
  Acheta
  acquit
  acid
  Acedo