Definitions for act

Definitions for (noun) act

Main entry: human action, human activity, deed, act

Definition: something that people do or cause to happen


Main entry: enactment, act

Definition: a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body


Main entry: turn, act, bit, number, routine

Definition: a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program

Usage: he did his act three times every evening; she had a catchy little routine; it was one of the best numbers he ever did


Main entry: act

Definition: a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet


Main entry: act

Definition: a manifestation of insincerity

Usage: he put on quite an act for her benefit


Definitions for (verb) act

Main entry: act, behave, do

Definition: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Usage: 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


Main entry: play, act, act as

Definition: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

Usage: He acted the idiot; She plays deaf when the news are bad


Main entry: act

Definition: discharge one's duties

Usage: She acts as the chair; In what capacity are you acting?


Main entry: represent, play, act

Definition: play a role or part

Usage: 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


Main entry: act, play, playact, roleplay

Definition: perform on a stage or theater

Usage: She acts in this play; He acted in `Julius Caesar'; I played in `A Christmas Carol'


Main entry: dissemble, pretend, act

Definition: behave unnaturally or affectedly

Usage: She's just acting


Main entry: move, act

Definition: perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

Usage: 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


Main entry: act

Definition: be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure


Main entry: work, act

Definition: have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

Usage: 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


Main entry: act

Definition: be suitable for theatrical performance

Usage: This scene acts well


Visual thesaurus for act