Act

English Meaning

That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.

1. The process of doing or performing something: the act of thinking.
2. Something done or performed; a deed: a charitable act.
3. A product, such as a statute, decree, or enactment, resulting from a decision by a legislative or judicial body: an act of Congress.
4. A formal written record of proceedings or transactions.
5. One of the major divisions of a play or opera.
6. A performance or entertainment usually forming part of a longer presentation: a juggling act; a magic act.
7. The actor or actors presenting such a performance: joined the act in Phoenix.
8. A manifestation of intentional or unintentional insincerity; a pose: put on an act.
9. To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of: She plans to act Lady Macbeth in summer stock.
10. To perform (a role) on the stage: act the part of the villain.
11. To behave like or pose as; impersonate: Don't act the fool.
12. To behave in a manner suitable for: Act your age.
13. To behave or comport oneself: She acts like a born leader.
14. To perform in a dramatic role or roles.
15. To be suitable for theatrical performance: This scene acts well.
16. To behave affectedly or unnaturally; pretend.
17. To appear or seem to be: The dog acted ferocious.
18. To carry out an action: We acted immediately. The governor has not yet acted on the bill.
19. To operate or function in a specific way: His mind acts quickly.
20. To serve or function as a substitute for another: A coin can act as a screwdriver.
21. To produce an effect: waited five minutes for the anesthetic to act.
22. act out To perform in or as if in a play; represent dramatically: act out a story.
23. act out To realize in action: wanted to act out his theory.
24. act out To express (unconscious impulses, for example) in an overt manner without conscious understanding or regard for social appropriateness.
25. act up To misbehave.
26. act up To malfunction.
27. act up Informal To become active or troublesome after a period of quiescence: My left knee acts up in damp weather. Her arthritis is acting up again.
28. be in on the act To be included in an activity.
29. clean up (one's) act Slang To improve one's behavior or performance.
30. get into the act To insert oneself into an ongoing activity, project, or situation.
31. get (one's) act together Slang To get organized.