act
[akt]
noun
1. anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.
2. the process of doing: caught in the act.
3. 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.
4. an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.
5. one of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.
6. a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.
7. the personnel of such a group: The act broke up after 30 years.
8. false show; pretense; feint: The politician’s pious remarks were all an act.
9. Philosophy . (in scholasticism)
a. activity in process; operation.
b. the principle or power of operation.
c. form as determining essence.
d. a state of realization, as opposed topotentiality.
verb (used without object)10. to do something; exert energy or
force;
be employed or operative:
He acted promptly in the emergency.
11. to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter: I am required to act before noon tomorrow.
12. to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions: to act as manager.
13. to produce an effect; perform a function: The medicine failed to act.
14. to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.
15. to pretend; feign: Act interested even if you’re bored.
16. to perform as an
actor: He acted in three plays by Molière.
17. to be capable of being performed: His plays don’t act well.
18. to serve or substitute (usually followed by
for ):
In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.
verb (used with object)
19. to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one’s person: to act Macbeth.
20. to feign; counterfeit: to act outraged virtue.
21. to behave as: He acted the fool.
22. Obsolete . to actuate.
Verb phrases
23. act on / upon,
a. to act in accordance with; follow: He acted on my advice.
b. to have an effect on; affect: The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.
24. act out, a. to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures:
The party guests acted out stories for one another.
b. 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.
25. act up,
a. to fail to function properly; malfunction: The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
b. to behave willfully: The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
c. to become painful or troublesome, especially after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.
26. 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.
Idioms
27. act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.
28. 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.
29. 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.
