act
act
I
/ˈækt/ noun , pl acts
1 [ count ] : something that is done
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
— see also sex act
◇ 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 ]
4 a : one of the performances in a show
a circus/magic act
4 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]
4 c : a person or group that performs in shows
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.
— see also class act, a hard/tough act to follow at follow
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 — see clean up at clean, 2
get into 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 — see get together at get
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.
————————
II
verb , acts, act·ed, act·ing
1 [ no obj ] : 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 obj ] : to behave in a particular way
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.
— see also act 3c (below), 2
3 a [ no obj ] : to behave in a way that is not sincere or honest
Stop acting. We know you're guilty.
3 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]
3 c [ no obj ] : to pretend that something is true
— usually used in the phrases act as if, act as though, and (chiefly US) act like
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.
see also act like at act 2 (above), 2
4 : to perform the words and actions of a character in a play, movie, etc. : to perform as an actor
[ no obj ] 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.
[ + obj ] 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 obj ] : 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 obj ] : to make something happen : to have a particular effect
The chemical acts [=works] by destroying the cells in the brain.
— often + on
These medicines act on [=affect] the heart.
see also
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
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.
— see also act 6 (above), 2
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?
1 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
2 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.
2 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 — see fool, 1
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.
