act

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ækt/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form act

Third-person singular acts

Past tense acted

Past participle acted

Present participle acting

Two men acting

1. (intransitive) If you act in some way, you do something that makes people think you are that way.
   • Synonyms: do, work and behave

   When he must do something, he acts quickly.

   Don't do anything strange. Just act normal.

   She acted the fool when she saw him.

2. (transitive & intransitive) If you act, you perform in a film or a play.
   • Synonym: play

   Daniel Radcliffe acts in the Harry Potter films.

Related words

• acting
• action
• inaction
• actionable
• actor
• actress
• react
• active

Noun

Singular act

Plural acts

1. (countable) Something done, a deed.

   Going into the house on fire to help a child was a brave act.

2. (countable) An act is a law made by the government.

   The UK's Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2004. It lets people ask questions of the government.

3. (countable) An act is when you do something to make people believe something other than the truth.

   Susan seems nice, but it's all an act.

4. (countable) An act is a part of a play, opera, ballet, musical, film, or other theatrical piece. An act is sometimes divided into scenes.

   The curtain comes down at the end of each act.

Synonyms

• law
• bill
• show
• action
• performance
• piece