Act (Verb)
Meaning 1
Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The kids like to act out their favorite scenes from movies and TV shows for fun.
- People act carefree and joyful when listening to their favorite music at concerts.
- Children often act out of curiosity, exploring their surroundings to learn more.
- The guys decided to act silly and have a water balloon fight on a hot summer day.
- Some people like to act creatively and build with LEGO bricks for stress relief.
Related Words
Meaning 2
Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "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".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- She decided to act quickly and call the emergency services after seeing the accident.
- The board of directors should act on the proposal to expand the company's operations.
- He realized he needed to act fast to save his cat from the burning building.
- The charity act helped raise over a million dollars for the cause.
- You should think carefully before you act on any major life decision.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Hyponyms
- Had Best
- Take Part
- Take Over
- Romance
- Hold Off
- Carry
- Counter
- Hold Back
- Fetch Up
- Acquit
- Court
- Commit
- Descend
- Misconduct
- Foresee
- Proceed
- Antagonise
- Festinate
- Make Do
- Oppose
- Hasten
- Finish
- End Up
- Wind Up
- Take Turns
- Land Up
- Pursue
- Counteract
- Lower Oneself
- Act Superior
- Presume
- Look Sharp
- Step Up
- Persist In
- Aggress
- Assay
- Contend
- Pay Back
- Manage
- Engage
- Attempt
- Repay
- Get By
- Go Along
- Make Sure
- Seek
- Start
- Bear
- Respond
- Manoeuvre
- Satisfise
- Conduct
- Toy
- Essay
- Approach
- Forestall
- Dare
- Play
- Flirt
- Step Forward
- Come Forward
- Deign
- Disturb
- Misdemean
- Make Out
- Go On
- Keep
- Deal
- Deport
- Pull
- Hurry
- Manoeuver
- Comport
- Queen It Over
- Offer
- Step To The Fore
- Solicit
- Go About
- Put On Airs
- Come Out
- Grapple
- Stoop
- Go Off At Half-cock
- Plow Ahead
- Move
Related Words
Meaning 3
Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The teacher asked the student to act more respectfully in class.
- She acts very shy around strangers, but is outgoing with her friends.
- You should act calm and composed in front of your clients.
- The dog acts aggressive when it's on a leash, but it's just defending itself.
- He's 30 years old, but he still acts like a teenager sometimes.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
- Bluster
- Sentimentise
- Play
- Act Reflexively
- Dawdle
- Trifle
- Loosen Up
- Lose It
- Bend Over Backwards
- Puff Up
- Snap
- Vulgarise
- Jest
- Optimise
- Sentimentize
- Sentimentalize
- Rage
- Storm
- Toy
- Swash
- Act As
Related Words
Meaning 4
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected; "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"; "The breaks of my new car act quickly"; "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The emergency brakes on this old truck act slowly in wet conditions.
- The pain relief medicine doesn't act unless you apply it directly to the affected area.
- Unfortunately, the mosquito repellent usually doesn't act effectively in humid environments.
- The fertilizer doesn't act well if you don't mix it with water according to the recommended ratio.
- The new battery doesn't act as efficiently in extremely cold temperatures.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
Perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Examples
- The renowned actress will act in the upcoming Broadway musical.
- He has acted in numerous Shakespearean plays throughout his career.
- She first acted in a school play when she was just 10 years old.
- They decided to act in the local theater production of 'Hamlet' to raise funds for charity.
- By the time she was 20, she had acted in several successful off-Broadway productions.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 6
Be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts well".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- This scene acts well on the stage with proper lighting and sound effects.
- The dramatic twist in the plot acts effectively in drawing the audience's attention.
- The setting of the period drama acts as a perfect backdrop for the story to unfold.
- The script acts well as a satire, poking fun at the social issues of the time.
- The tragic finale acts as a powerful conclusion to the story.
Related Words
Meaning 7
Discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- She acts as the head of our marketing department to oversee all campaigns.
- I am acting in my sister's place until her return from vacation.
- Our manager acts as the team's point of contact for client meetings.
- She is currently acting in that capacity until a suitable replacement is found.
- He acts as our company's spokesperson for all official announcements.
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 8
Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- She acts the victim to get sympathy from her friends.
- He pretended to be asleep during the conference meeting to avoid questions.
- They play dumb when the topic of politics comes up in conversation.
- She acted arrogant in front of her classmates after scoring high on the test.
- He pretends to be interested in local history just to impress his girlfriend.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 9
Behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Examples
- He's acting all tough just to impress his friends.
- Stop acting so shy and join the conversation already.
- The celebrity's accent seemed a bit off, like she was acting.
- He's been acting differently around his new girlfriend, it's a bit suspicious.
- My little brother is acting so childish today, refusing to listen to anyone.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 10
Play a role or part; "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".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Examples
- Keira Knightley will act Elizabeth Bennet in the film adaptation of the novel.
- He wants to act a role in the local theatre company's production.
- Denzel Washington has acted many prominent roles throughout his career.
- Jennifer Lawrence has been chosen to act the lead in the upcoming drama.
- She will act the role of a queen in the historical epic film.