n.

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. 1. A performance or entertainment usually forming part of a longer presentation: a juggling act; a magic act.
   2. The actor or actors presenting such a performance: joined the act in Phoenix.
7. A manifestation of intentional or unintentional insincerity; a pose: put on an act.

v., act·ed, act·ing, acts.

v.tr.

1. To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of: She plans to act Lady Macbeth in summer stock.
2. To perform (a role) on the stage: act the part of the villain.
3. 1. To behave like or pose as; impersonate: Don't act the fool.
   2. To behave in a manner suitable for: Act your age.

v.intr.

1. To behave or comport oneself: She acts like a born leader.
2. To perform in a dramatic role or roles.
3. To be suitable for theatrical performance: This scene acts well.
4. To behave affectedly or unnaturally; pretend.
5. To appear or seem to be: The dog acted ferocious.
6. To carry out an action: We acted immediately. The governor has not yet acted on the bill.
7. To operate or function in a specific way: His mind acts quickly.
8. To serve or function as a substitute for another: A coin can act as a screwdriver.
9. To produce an effect: waited five minutes for the anesthetic to act.

phrasal verbs:

act out

1. 1. To perform in or as if in a play; represent dramatically: act out a story.
   2. To realize in action: wanted to act out his theory.
2. To express (unconscious impulses, for example) in an overt manner without conscious understanding or regard for social appropriateness.

act up

1. To misbehave.
2. To malfunction.
3. 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.

idioms:

be in on the act

1. To be included in an activity.

clean up (one's) act Slang.

1. To improve one's behavior or performance.

get into the act

1. To insert oneself into an ongoing activity, project, or situation.

get (one's) act together Slang.

1. To get organized.

[Middle English, from Old French acte, from Latin āctus, a doing, and āctum, a thing done, both from past participle of agere, to drive, do.]

actability ac'ta·bil'i·ty n.
actable act'a·ble adj.

USAGE NOTE   The words act and action both mean “a deed” and “the process of doing.” However, other senses of act, such as “a decision made by a legislative body” and of action, such as “habitual or vigorous activity” show that act tends to refer to a deed while action tends to refer to the process of doing. Thus, people engage in sex acts but not sex actions. By the same token, a person may want a piece of the action, but not a piece of the act. The demands of meaning or idiom will often require one word or the other. But in some cases either can be used: my act (or action) was premature.

also act up

noun

1. The process of doing: action. See action/inaction.
2. Something done: action, deed, doing, thing, work. See do/not do.
3. The formal product of a legislative or judicial body: assize, bill, enactment, law, legislation, lex, measure, statute. See law.
4. A short theatrical piece within a larger production: sketch, skit. See performing arts.
5. A display of insincere behavior: acting, disguise, dissemblance, masquerade, pretense, sham, show, simulation. See honest/dishonest, true/false.

verb

1. To conduct oneself in a specified way: acquit, bear, behave, carry, comport, demean, deport, do, quit. See be.
2. To behave affectedly or insincerely or take on a false or misleading appearance of: counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, play-act, pose, pretend, put on, sham, simulate. See honest/dishonest, true/false.
3. To react in a specified way: behave, function, operate, perform, work. See action/inaction.
4. To perform the duties of another: function, officiate, serve. See do/not do, substitute.
5. To play the part of: do, enact, impersonate, perform, play, play-act, portray, represent. See action/inaction, performing arts, substitute.
6. To produce on the stage. do, dramatize, enact, give, perform, present, put on, stage. See performing arts.

phrasal verb - act up

1. To behave in a rowdy, improper, or unruly fashion: carry on, misbehave. Informal cut up, horse around. See good/bad.
2. To work improperly due to mechanical difficulties: malfunction, misbehave. See thrive/fail/exist.

Idioms beginning with act:
action
active duty
act of God

See also catch in the act; clean up (one's act); do a disappearing act; get in the act; get one's act together; hard (tough) act to follow; high-wire act; in the act of; put on an act.

---

n

Definition: something done
Antonyms: cessation, idleness, inactivity, inertia, quiet, repose, rest, stoppage, suspension

v

Definition: do something
Antonyms: abstain, cease, discontinue, give up, halt, hesitate, idle, refrain, stop

---

act, a major division in the action of a play, comprising one or more scenes. A break between acts often coincides with a point at which the plot jumps ahead in time.

On drawings, abbreviation for “actual.”

---

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

Something done; usually, something done intentionally or voluntarily or with a purpose.

The term encompasses not only physical acts — such as turning on the water or purchasing a gun — but also refers to more intangible acts such as adopting a decree, edict, law, judgment, award, or determination. An act may be a private act, done by an individual managing his or her personal affairs, or it may be a public act, done by an official, a council, or a court. When a bill is favorably acted upon in the process of legislation, it becomes an act.

IN BRIEF: One of the main parts of a play, opera, or ballet.

Old age: the crown of life, our play's last act. — Cicero (106-43 BC), Roman orator, statesman, philosopher & writer.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - spille, fremstille, fremføre
v. intr. - opføre sig, reagere
n. - handling, dåd, gerning

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    noget at leve op til
• act a part    spille en rolle, spille komedie
• act as    optræde som, fungere som
• act big    te sig som om man ejer det hele
• act of God    force majeure
• act of war    krigshandling
• act on    handle efter, handle i følge
• act out    gennemføre, føre ud i livet
• act the fool    spille klovn, skabe sig
• act up    gøre knuder, stritte imod
• act upon    handle efter, handle i følge
• get in on the act    få lov at være med, få lov at give sit besyv med
• get one's act together    får orden på tingene, få styr på tingene
• put on an act    spille komedie, skabe sig

abbr. - forudbetalt udbytteskat, acetylcholine

Nederlands (Dutch)
toneelspelen, op bepaalde wijze zich gedragen, daadkrachtig handelen, optreden (als), effect hebben (b.v. medicijn), doen alsof, daad/handeling, wet, opvoering/sketch, schertsvertoning, (mv) besluiten etc. van commissie, bedrijf (in toneel/ballet etc.), akte

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Théât) jouer, tenir, (Théât, fig) tenir le rôle de
v. intr. - agir, (Admin) statuer, se comporter, se conduire, (Théât) jouer, servir, faire office de, (Méd, Chim) agir sur
n. - acte, action, (Jur) loi, (Jur) document légal, (Relig) Actes, numéro (de cirque), acte (d'une pièce), (fig) comédie, (fig) cinéma

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    une performance difficile à égaler
• act a part    tenir un rôle
• act as    agir en tant que
• act big    jouer le grand jeu, vouloir impressionner
• act of God    catastrophe naturelle
• act of war    acte de guerre
• act on    suivre, se conformer à, exécuter
• act out    faire un récit mimé de, exprimer, mimer, vivre (des fantasmes)
• act the fool    faire l'idiot
• act up    se conduire mal, faire des caprices
• act upon    suivre, se conformer à, exécuter
• be in on the act    s'imposer, s'y mettre
• get in on the act    s'imposer
• get one's act together    se reprendre en main
• in the act of    sur le fait, en flagrant délit
• put on an act    jouer la comédie

abbr. - (abrév) examen d'une université américaine, (abrév) syndicat d'enseignants (aux Etats-Unis)

Deutsch (German)
v. - handeln, vorgehen, spielen, schauspielern, wirken
n. - Handlung, Tat, Vorgehen, Gesetz, Akt, Aufzug, Akte, Schriftstück

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    schwer nachzuahmen
• act a part    eine Rolle spielen
• act as    auftreten als, amtieren als
• act big    protzen, sich aufplustern
• act of God    höhere Gewalt, Naturereignis
• act of war    kriegerischer Akt, Kriegshandlung
• act on    befolgen, nachkommen, einwirken auf, beeinflussen
• act out    szenisch darstellen
• act the fool    herumalbern
• act up    nicht richtig funktionieren, (ugs) Theater machen, (salopp) verrückt spielen
• act upon    befolgen, nachkommen, einwirken auf, beeinflussen
• be in on the act    in das Geschäft einsteigen, mitmischen
• get in on the act    auf den fahrenden Zug aufspringen
• get one's act together    sich zusammenreißen
• in the act of    gerade dabei sein, etw. zu tun
• put on an act    Theater spielen

abbr. - Distrikt der australianischen Hauptstadt, amerikanischer Gymnasialtest, Lehrerverband

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ενεργώ, δρω, συμπεριφέρομαι, υποκρίνομαι, προσποιούμαι, παριστάνω (κν. κάνω), υποδύομαι, παίζω θέατρο, αντικαθιστώ, εκτελώ καθήκοντα
n. - πράξη, ενέργεια, νομοθετική πράξη, νόμος, θεατρική πράξη, νούμερο (επιθεώρησης), διάβημα, προσποίηση, προσποιητό ύφος, σεξουαλική πράξη, συνουσία

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    αξεπέραστο κατόρθωμα
• act a part    υποδύομαι (θεατρικό κτλ.) ρόλο
• act as    ενεργώ ως, ενεργώ υπό την ιδιότητα του...
• act big    κάνω τον σπουδαίο
• act of God    (νομ.) ανωτέρα βία, θεομηνία
• act of war    πολεμική ενέργεια
• act on    ενεργώ κατά ή σύμφωνα με.., επιδρώ σε.., παίρνω μέτρα σχετικά με
• act out    αναπαριστάνω
• act the fool    κάνω το βλάκα, κάνω τον κλόουν
• act up    κάνω παρατράγουδα, κάνω σκέρτσα ή καμώματα
• act upon    επιδρώ σε, ενεργώ σύμφωνα με
• get in on the act    (καθομ.) μπαίνω στο κόλπο
• get one's act together    (καθομ.) αναδιοργανώνομαι, σοβαρεύομαι
• put on an act    υποκρίνομαι, παίζω θέατρο

Italiano (Italian)
procedere, agire, operare, comportarsi,, recitare, funzionare, agire come, avere effetto, essere effettivo, azione, decreto, atto, imitazione

idioms:

• a balancing act    acrobazia
• a class act    atto di categoria
• a hard act to follow    impresa difficile da emulare
• act a part    recitare un ruolo
• act as    fare da
• act big    fare sfoggio
• act of God    intervento divino
• act of war    azione di guerra
• act on    agire su, influire su
• act out    manifestare, esprimere
• act up to    conformarsi a
• act upon    mettere in pratica
• catch in the act    cogliere con le mani nel sacco, cogliere sul fatto, cogliere in flagrante, pizzicare
• clean up your act    correggiti
• criminal act    reato
• get in on the act    partecipare a
• get one's act together    mattiti in sesto, preparati
• put on an act    fare la commedia
• sexual act    atto sessuale
• speech act    dichiarazione orale, atto linguistico

Português (Portuguese)
v. - agir, funcionar, comportar-se, influenciar, atuar
n. - ato (m) (Jur.), ação (f), encenação (f), decreto (m) (Jur.)

idioms:

• a balancing act    tentativa de lutar contra vários fatores de conflito ao mesmo tempo
• a class act    um ato de classe (fig.)
• a hard act to follow    uma lei difícil de seguir
• act a part    agir como parte
• act as    agir como
• act big    agir de forma adequada
• act of God    acaso fortuito
• act of war    decreto de guerra
• act on    influir em, agir sobre, dar decisão
• act out    transformar em ação
• act up to    atuar de forma diferente do normal, funcionar incorretamente
• act upon    agir de acordo com, influir em
• catch in the act    pegar no ato, pegar em flagrante
• clean up your act    comportar-se de maneira aceitável
• criminal act    ação criminal (Jur.)
• get in on the act    tornar-se entusiasmado instantaneamente
• get one's act together    colocar (a vida, pensamentos ou emoções) em ordem, começar a funcionar de maneira qualificada ou eficiente
• get your act together    colocar (sua vida, pensamentos ou emoções) em ordem
• put on an act    colocar em ordem
• read the riot act    ordenar a dispersão de uma multidão, avisar ou ordenar a cessação de algo, protestar veementemente, reprimir com severidade
• sexual act    ato sexual
• speech act    ato discursivo

Русский (Russian)
действовать, поступать, играть роль, вести себя, закон (юрид.), акт (театр.), акт, документ (юрид.), поступок, деяние

idioms:

• a balancing act    выступление канатоходца, балансировка между двумя явлениями
• a class act    высококлассное исполнение
• a hard act to follow    трудно последовать
• act a part    играть роль
• act as    выступать в роли кого-то
• act big    действовать с размахом
• act of God    событие, не зависящее от человека
• act of war    действие, провоцирующее войну
• act on    вести себя с соответствии с, влиять на
• act out    разыграть (сцену)
• act up to    вести себя в соответствии с чем-то
• act upon    воздействовать
• act upon    действовать по
• catch in the act    поймать на чем-то
• clean up your act    исправиться
• criminal act    преступное действие
• get in on the act    включиться в какую-то выгодную деятельность
• get one's act together    организоваться, привести себя в порядок
• get your act together    приведи себя в порядок
• put on an act    разыгрывать кого-то, обманывать
• read the riot act    грозно предупреждать о чем-либо
• sexual act    половой акт
• speech act    произнесение речи

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - obrar, proceder, actuar, representar, desempeñar el papel de, interpretar
v. intr. - obrar, comportarse, conducirse, portarse
n. - actuación, declaración, ley, decreto, acto, acta, escritura, partida, acción, número

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    una escena difícil de repetir, algo tan bueno que es difícil de igualar
• act a part    hacer la comedia
• act as    actuar como, figurar como
• act big    alardear, presumir
• act of God    caso de fuerza mayor
• act of war    operación bélica, acción de guerra
• act on    seguir (consejos), cumplir (órdenes), actuar sobre, afectar, influir en
• act out    exteriorizar, representar
• act the fool    hacer el tonto, hacer payasadas
• act up    causar problemas
• act upon    seguir (consejos), cumplir (órdenes), actuar sobre, influir en
• be in on the act    participar en algo aparentemente beneficioso
• get in on the act    participar en algo aparentemente beneficioso
• get one's act together    organizarse
• in the act of    disponerse a, en el momento de
• put on an act    simular

abbr. - Test de Colegios Americanos, Asociación de Profesores de Clase, Territorio Capital de Australia

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - handla, tjänstgöra, göra verkan
n. - handling, gärning, akt

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
儿童电视行动组织, 美国大学测验

扮演, 举动像, 装作, 下判决, 行动, 假装, 见效, 起作用, 演戏, 表演, 行为, 幕, 节目, 法案, 法令

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    难以跟上
• act a part    扮演一个角色, 装腔作势
• act as    充当, 担任...角色
• act big    神气活现
• act of God    天灾, 不可抗力
• act of war    战争行为, 侵略行为
• act on    对...起作用, 按照...行事
• act out    将...付诸行动
• act the fool    装疯卖傻
• act up    调皮, 出毛病, 任性
• act upon    对...起作用, 按照...行事
• get in on the act    如法炮制
• get one's act together    组织起来, 劲往一处使
• put on an act    装腔

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
abbr. - 兒童電視行動組織, 美國大學測驗

v. tr. - 扮演, 舉動像, 裝作, 下判決
v. intr. - 行動, 假裝, 見效, 起作用, 演戲, 表演
n. - 行為, 幕, 行動, 節目, 法案, 法令

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    難以跟上
• act a part    扮演一個角色, 裝腔作勢
• act as    充當, 擔任...角色
• act big    神氣活現
• act of God    天災, 不可抗力
• act of war    戰爭行為, 侵略行為
• act on    對...起作用, 按照...行事
• act out    將...付諸行動
• act the fool    裝瘋賣傻
• act up    調皮, 出毛病, 任性
• act upon    對...起作用, 按照...行事
• get in on the act    如法砲製
• get one's act together    組織起來, 勁往一處使
• put on an act    裝腔

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 행하다, 상연하다, ~인체하다
v. intr. - 행동하다, 근무하다, 처신하다, 작용하다, 무대에 서다, 결정하다
n. - 행위, 현행, 막, 한 프로, 결의서, 학위논문 제목

idioms:

• a hard act to follow    따라 하기 힘든 행동
• act a part    ~한 역할을 맡아 하다, 연극을 부리다
• act as    ~노릇을 하다
• act big    거시적 안목으로 행동하다
• act of God    신의 이름으로
• act of war    전쟁 행위
• act on    ~에 작용하다, ~에 입각하여 행동하다
• act out    실연하다
• act the fool    광대노릇을 하다, 바보짓을 하다
• act up    건방지게 굴다, 희롱하다, 겉치레하다
• act upon    ~에 작용하다, ~에 입각하여 행동하다
• get in on the act    계획에 한 몫 끼다
• get one's act together    삶을 체계화하여 원하는 것을 얻을 수 있도록 하다
• put on an act    연기를 해보이다, 거짓 행위를 하다

abbr. - American College Test(미국 대학 입학 학력 테스트)

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 行い, 行為, 幕, 芝居, 出し物, 演技, 法令, 決議
v. - 行動する, ふるまう, 演じる, 出演する, 作動する, 効く, …のようにふるまう, 演じてみせる, 上演に向く

idioms:

• act a part    芝居を打つ
• act as    役を務める
• act big    でかい面をする
• act of God    天災, 不可抗力
• act of war    戦争行為
• act on    従って行動する, 作用する, 効く
• act out    行動で表現する, 実演する
• act up to    従って行動する
• act upon    従って行動する
• get in on the act    参加する
• get one's act together    協調する
• get your act together    ちぐはぐな事をしない
• juggling act    色々な事を一度にやる
• put on an act    見かけよくふるまう

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يمثل, يتظاهر, يتصرف, يقوم بمهمه (الاسم) عمل, فعل, صنيع, قانون, قرار, فصل من مسرحيه, تظاهر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הציג מחזה, תיאר (אירוע) באמצעות פעולות, מילא (בהצגה) תפקיד של‬
v. intr. - ‮התנהג, ביצע פעולות, פעל ביעילות, פעל, הפעיל השפעה, העמיד פנים‬
n. - ‮מעשה, פעולה, הופעה, מערכה במחזה, חוק, צו, אירוע, מוצג‬
abbr. - ‮הטריטוריה של בירת אוסטרליה‬

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