noun
plural acts
[count] :something that is done
An act of God is a natural event (such as a storm or earthquake) that cannot be controlled by people.
[count] :a law made by a group of legislators
[count] :one of the main divisions of a play or opera
[count] one of the performances in a show
a show that a person or group performs often
a person or group that performs in shows
A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time.
[singular] :a way of behaving that is not honest or sincere
clean up your act
see clean up at 2clean
get into the act
or get in on the act
to start to participate in an activity
get your act together
see get together at get
in the act (of doing something)
while doing something
verb
acts; acted; acting
[no obj] :to do something :to take action
[no obj] :to behave in a particular way
To act the part is to behave the way that people in a particular role usually behave.
To act your age is to behave the way that people your age should behave and not to behave like a younger person.
To act like a particular kind of person or thing is to behave the way that person or thing behaves.
[no obj] :to behave in a way that is not sincere or honest
[linking verb] :to pretend to be something
[no obj] :to pretend that something is true - usually used in the phrases act as if, act as though, and (chiefly US) act like
to perform the words and actions of a character in a play, movie, etc. :to perform as an actor [no obj]
[no obj] :to do the work of a particular kind of person or thing :to perform a certain function or role - + as
[no obj] :to make something happen :to have a particular effect
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
act out
[phrasal verb]
to behave badly especially because you are feeling painful emotions (such as fear or anger)
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
act out (something) or act (something) out
to perform (a play, a character in a movie, etc.)
to do and say the things that happen in (a movie, past event, etc.)
act the fool
act up
[phrasal verb]
to behave badly :to act in a way that is not polite or acceptable
of a machine :to not work properly
of a disease :to become worse and to start causing pain or physical problems