ACT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does act mean? 

• ACT (noun)
  The noun ACT has 5 senses:

1. a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

2. something that people do or cause to happen

3. a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

4. a short performance that is part of a longer program

5. a manifestation of insincerity

  Familiarity information: ACT used as a noun is common.

• ACT (verb)
  The verb ACT has 10 senses:

1. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

2. behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

3. play a role or part

4. discharge one's duties

5. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

6. be suitable for theatrical performance

7. have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

8. be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure

9. behave unnaturally or affectedly

10. perform on a stage or theater

  Familiarity information: ACT used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ACT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

act; enactment

Hypernyms ("act" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "act"):

nullity (something that is null (especially an enactment that has no legal validity))

decree; edict; fiat; order; rescript (a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge))

legislative act; statute (an act passed by a legislative body)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something that people do or cause to happen

Classified under:

Nouns with no superordinates

Synonyms:

act; deed; human action; human activity

Hypernyms ("act" is a kind of...):

event (something that happens at a given place and time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "act"):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

acquiring; getting (the act of acquiring something)

causation; causing (the act of causing something to happen)

delivery; obstetrical delivery (the act of delivering a child)

departure; going; going away; leaving (the act of departing)

discovery; find; uncovering (the act of discovering something)

disposal; disposition (the act or means of getting rid of something)

effectuation; implementation (the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect)

egress; egression; emergence (the act of coming (or going) out; becoming apparent)

equalisation; equalization; leveling (the act of making equal or uniform)

digging up; disinterment; exhumation (the act of digging something up out of the ground (especially a corpse) where it has been buried)

mitsvah; mitzvah ((Judaism) a good deed performed out of religious duty)

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

recovery; retrieval (the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost))

running away (the act of leaving (without permission) the place you are expected to be)

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

nonaccomplishment; nonachievement (an act that does not achieve its intended goal)

leaning (the act of deviating from a vertical position)

motivating; motivation (the act of motivating; providing incentive)

assumption (the act of assuming or taking for granted)

rejection (the act of rejecting something)

forfeit; forfeiture; sacrifice (the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.)

derivation (the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin)

activity (any specific behavior)

hire (the act of hiring something or someone)

wear; wearing (the act of having on your person as a covering or adornment)

assessment; judgement; judgment (the act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event)

production (the act or process of producing something)

stay (continuing or remaining in a place or state)

abidance; residence; residency (the act of dwelling in a place)

inactivity (being inactive; being less active)

hinderance; hindrance; interference (the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding)

stop; stoppage (the act of stopping something)

group action (action taken by a group of people)

distribution (the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning)

legitimation (the act of rendering a person legitimate)

permissive waste; waste ((law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect)

proclamation; promulgation (the formal act of proclaiming; giving public notice)

communicating; communication (the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information)

speech act (the use of language to perform some act)

Derivation:

actuate (put in motion or move to act)

actuate (give an incentive for action)

act (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("act" is a kind of...):

dramatic composition; dramatic work (a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.)

Meronyms (parts of "act"):

scene (a subdivision of an act of a play)

Holonyms ("act" is a part of...):

ballet; concert dance (a theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers)

drama; dramatic play; play (a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage)

opera (a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A short performance that is part of a longer program

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

act; bit; number; routine; turn

Context example:

it was one of the best numbers he ever did

Hypernyms ("act" is a kind of...):

performance; public presentation (a dramatic or musical entertainment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "act"):

show-stopper; showstopper; stopper (an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down)

Derivation:

act (play a role or part)

act (perform on a stage or theater)

act (be suitable for theatrical performance)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A manifestation of insincerity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he put on quite an act for her benefit

Hypernyms ("act" is a kind of...):

expression; manifestation; reflection; reflexion (expression without words)

Derivation:

act (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

act (behave unnaturally or affectedly)

• ACT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

act; move

Context example:

The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

alternate; take turns (do something in turns)

end up; fetch up; finish; finish up; land up; wind up (finally be or do something)

festinate; hasten; hurry; look sharp; rush (act or move at high speed)

disturb; interrupt (destroy the peace or tranquility of)

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

go ahead; plow ahead (proceed (with a plan of action))

aggress; attack (take the initiative and go on the offensive)

force (do forcibly; exert force)

create (pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity)

come forward; come out; come to the fore; step forward; step to the fore; step up (make oneself visible; take action)

pay back; repay; reward (act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions)

satisfice; satisfise (decide on and pursue a course of action satisfying the minimum requirements to achieve a goal)

maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre (act in order to achieve a certain goal)

dispatch (dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently)

evade (practice evasion)

race (to work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others)

use (habitually do something or be in a certan state or place (use only in the past tense))

play it by ear (decide on one's actions as one goes along, depending on the situation)

play (act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome)

deal (take action with respect to (someone or something))

partner (act as a partner)

exert (make a great effort at a mental or physical task)

egotrip (act in a way that attracts attention)

reciprocate (act, feel, or give mutually or in return)

go; move; proceed (follow a procedure or take a course)

come close (nearly do something)

perform (perform a function)

dare; make bold; presume (take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission)

engage; prosecute; pursue (carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in)

act on (regulate one's behavior in accordance with certain information, ideas, or advice)

interact (act together or towards others or with others)

oppose; react (act against or in opposition to)

take time by the forelock (act quickly and decisively; not let slip an opportunity)

coact (act together, as of organisms)

offer; volunteer (agree freely)

get around to (do something despite obstacles such as lack of time)

dally; flirt; play; toy (behave carelessly or indifferently)

approach; go about; set about (begin to deal with)

participate; take part (share in something)

misbehave; misconduct; misdemean (behave badly)

condescend; lower oneself; stoop (debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way)

acquit; bear; behave; carry; comport; conduct; deport (behave in a certain manner)

behave; comport (behave well or properly)

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

court; romance; solicit; woo (make amorous advances towards)

court (engage in social activities leading to marriage)

dare (to be courageous enough to try or do something)

effect (act so as to bring into existence)

antagonise; antagonize; counteract (act in opposition to)

anticipate; counter; foresee; forestall (act in advance of; deal with ahead of time)

prosecute (conduct a prosecution in a court of law)

commit; perpetrate; pull (perform an act, usually with a negative connotation)

rampage (act violently, recklessly, or destructively)

contend; cope; deal; get by; grapple; make do; make out; manage (succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available)

condescend; deign; descend (do something that one considers to be below one's dignity)

condescend (behave in a patronizing and condescending manner)

take care (be careful, prudent, or watchful)

act superior; lord it over; put on airs; queen it over (act like the master of)

stampede (act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse)

make a point; make sure (make a point of doing something; act purposefully and intentionally)

repeat; take over (do over)

surprise (come upon or take unawares)

sneak (put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner)

play (behave in a certain way)

take (carry out)

guard (take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence)

begin; start (begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object)

go off at half-cock; go off half-cocked (act prematurely or without reflection or too soon)

hold back; hold off; wait (wait before acting)

continue; go along; go on; keep; proceed (continue a certain state, condition, or activity)

do well; had best (act in one's own or everybody's best interest)

continue (continue after an interruption)

continue; persist in (do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

refrain (resist doing something)

Also:

act on (carry further or advance)

act up (misbehave badly; act in a silly or improper way)

act upon (have and exert influence or effect)

Derivation:

act (something that people do or cause to happen)

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

action (the state of being active)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

act; behave; do

Context example:

The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people

Verb group:

act; act as; play (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

act; dissemble; pretend (behave unnaturally or affectedly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

act involuntarily; act reflexively (act in an uncontrolled manner)

bend over backwards; fall over backwards (try very hard to please someone)

presume (take liberties or act with too much confidence)

vulgarise; vulgarize (act in a vulgar manner)

optimise; optimize (act as an optimist and take a sunny view of the world)

quack (act as a medical quack or a charlatan)

menace (act in a threatening manner)

make (act in a certain way so as to acquire)

bluster; swagger; swash (act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner)

freeze (suddenly behave coldly and formally)

wanton (behave extremely cruelly and brutally)

romanticize (act in a romantic way)

sentimentalise; sentimentalize; sentimentise; sentimentize (act in a sentimental way or indulge in sentimental thoughts or expression)

bungle (spoil by behaving clumsily or foolishly)

play; toy (engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously)

act; act as; play (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

stooge (act as a stooge, in a compliant or subordinate manner)

jest; joke (act in a funny or teasing way)

piffle (act in a trivial or ineffective way)

make (behave in a certain way)

make as if (begin or appear to begin an action)

break down; lose it; snap (lose control of one's emotions)

dally; dawdle (waste time)

backslap (display excessive cordiality (towards))

hugger mugger (act stealthily or secretively)

sauce (behave saucily or impudently towards)

footle (act foolishly, as by talking nonsense)

frivol; trifle (act frivolously)

puff up; swell (become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger)

follow (accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of)

loosen up; relax (become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner)

rage; ramp; storm (behave violently, as if in state of a great anger)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s Adjective

Also:

act up (make itself felt as a recurring pain)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Play a role or part

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

act; play; represent

Context example:

She played the servant to her husband's master

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

re-create (create anew)

Verb group:

act; act as; play (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind)

act; play; playact; roleplay (perform on a stage or theater)

play (pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity)

Domain category:

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

make; make believe; pretend (represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like)

support (play a subordinate role to (another performer))

act out; enact; reenact (act out; represent or perform as if in a play)

act out (represent an incident, state, or emotion by action, especially on stage)

impersonate; portray (assume or act the character of)

parody (make a spoof of or make fun of)

emote (give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

act (a short performance that is part of a longer program)

actable (capable of being acted; suitable for the stage)

acting (the performance of a part or role in a drama)

actor (a theatrical performer)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Discharge one's duties

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

In what capacity are you acting?

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

serve (do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

criticise; criticize (act as a critic)

bank (act as the banker in a game or in gambling)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

actor (a person who acts and gets things done)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

act; act as; play

Context example:

She plays deaf when the news are bad

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

Verb group:

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

act; play; represent (play a role or part)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

act (a manifestation of insincerity)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Be suitable for theatrical performance

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

This scene acts well

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Verb group:

act; play; playact; roleplay (perform on a stage or theater)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun

Derivation:

act (a short performance that is part of a longer program)

actable (capable of being acted; suitable for the stage)

acting (the performance of a part or role in a drama)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

act; work

Context example:

The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win (attain success or reach a desired goal)

Verb group:

bring; make for; play; work; wreak (cause to happen or to occur as a consequence)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

play (be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children)

drive around (drive without any particular aim)

walk around (walk randomly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

action (the state of being active)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Behave unnaturally or affectedly

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

act; dissemble; pretend

Context example:

She's just acting

Verb group:

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

assume; feign; sham; simulate (make a pretence of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

act (a manifestation of insincerity)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Perform on a stage or theater

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

act; play; playact; roleplay

Context example:

I played in 'A Christmas Carol'

Hypernyms (to "act" is one way to...):

perform (give a performance (of something))

Verb group:

play (perform on a certain location)

play (be performed or presented for public viewing)

act; play; represent (play a role or part)

act (be suitable for theatrical performance)

Domain category:

dramatic art; dramatics; dramaturgy; theater; theatre (the art of writing and producing plays)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "act"):

stooge (act as the stooge)

mime; pantomime (act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only)

ham; ham it up; overact; overplay (exaggerate one's acting)

underact; underplay (act (a role) with great restraint)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

act (a short performance that is part of a longer program)

actor (a theatrical performer)

acting (the performance of a part or role in a drama)

actable (capable of being acted; suitable for the stage)

 Context examples 

So we then can discuss how we shall act, and can take our measure according.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

By doing so, these plastic pellets become sponges for dirt, acting as vectors of the organic compounds, spreading pollution of marine wildlife, and reducing their growth, reproduction and mobility.

(Microplastic pollution adds to oceans’ problems, scidev.net)

But the cost of plastering might prevent poor families from acting on this advice.

(Smoother walls healthier for lungs, SciDev.Net)

All this contributes to sounding the alarm and that's why we must act now.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

In the current work, the researchers used a neurotransmitter which acts as the ‘brake’ at the source of the seizure, essentially signalling to the neurons to stop firing and end the seizure.

(Electronic device implanted in the brain could stop seizures, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

ACTH acts on the outer part of the adrenal gland to control its release of corticosteroid hormones.

(ACTH, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

SPHERE, a planet-hunting instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, has captured the first confirmed image of a planet caught in the act of forming in the dusty disc surrounding a young star.

(First Confirmed Image of Newborn Planet, ESO)

Breastfeeding, long known to benefit infant health, partially acts by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium in the baby's gut.

(Gut Bacteria from Breastfeeding Linked to Improved Infant Response to Vaccines, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Over the last half-billion or billion years on Titan, methane in its atmosphere has acted as a greenhouse gas, keeping the moon relatively warm - although still cold by Earth standards.

(New Models Suggest Titan Lakes Are Explosion Craters, NASA)

As I say, I debated with myself, and then I did what I consider the bravest act of my life.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)