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act English

Meaning act meaning

What does act mean?
Definitions in simple English

act Verb

— &; If you act in some way, you do something that makes people think you are that way. When he must do something, he acts quickly. Don't do anything strange. Just act normal. She acted the fool when she saw him. — If you act, you perform in a film or a play. Daniel Radcliffe acts in the Harry Potter films.

act Noun

— Something done, a deed. Going into the house on fire to help a child was a brave act. — 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. — 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. — 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.

act

— noun a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body — verb (= move) perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) 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 — noun something that people do or cause to happen — verb (= behave, do) behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself 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 — noun a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet — verb (= play) play a role or part 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 — verb discharge one's duties She acts as the chair In what capacity are you acting? — noun (= routine, number) a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program he did his act three times every evening she had a catchy little routine it was one of the best numbers he ever did — verb (= play) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind He acted the idiot She plays deaf when the news are bad — noun a manifestation of insincerity he put on quite an act for her benefit — verb (= play) perform on a stage or theater She acts in this play He acted in 'Julius Caesar' I played in 'A Christmas Carol' — verb be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure — verb be suitable for theatrical performance This scene acts well — verb (= work) have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected 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 — verb behave unnaturally or affectedly She's just acting

Synonyms act synonyms

What other words have the same or similar meaning as act?

act English » English

deed action do perform work behave play make operate achievement law performance move conduct function affect achieve influence behavior accomplishment take action serve run operation doing deal behaviour statute pretend show exploit appear activity represent decree conduct oneself commit process proceed present practise portray playact manners impersonate give enactment effect document carry out

ACT English » English

anti-comet-tail advanced chemical tug Automatic Color Tracking Acoustic Charge Transport

Topics act topics

What do people use act to talk about?
Social behavior Social activity

Drama
Grammar General words

Do
Social behavior Social activity Social event

Festival, show
Social behavior

Behavior

Physical actions
Social behavior Authority Submit to authority

Rebel against authority
Social behavior Behavior Good, moral

Mature in behavior
Social behavior Behavior

Love
Person Life Sexual relations

Attract sexually
Language and thought Want Influence

Advise
Language and thought

Emotion
Social behavior Behavior Good, moral

Meet a standard
Social behavior Behavior Good, moral Meet a standard

Below standard
Social behavior Behavior Good, moral Mature in behavior

Immature in behavior
Social behavior Behavior Honest

Hypocrite
Social behavior Prosperity, trouble Trouble

Disaster
Social behavior Prosperity, trouble Respond to trouble

Cowardice
Social behavior Government Government functions

Represent
Social behavior Law

Laws
Social behavior Law Justice

Act harshly
Physical actions Arrange

Organize

Conjugation act conjugation

How do you conjugate act?

act · verb

Examples act examples

How do I use act in a sentence?

Simple sentences

You should act on the doctor's advice at once.
You say one thing and then act just the opposite.
Act your age.
You ought not to act selfishly.
They have the right and power to act on their ideas.
You shouldn't act selfishly.
Don't act like you don't know what's wrong.
A wise person would be ashamed to act like that.
If the majority of people all over the world act and think positively, our world will change for better.
How does he act around girls?
A weather modification (also known as weather control) is the act of intentionally manipulating or altering the weather.
Tom likes to act from a position of strength.
You should act more calmly.
She sings well, to be sure, but she can't act.
We should always act in obedience to the law.
The most instinctive act of nearly every creature is to protect its young, and with humans, this response persists for a lifetime.
I was at my wit's end as to how to act.
At last, the day has arrived for us to act.
We must act at once.
The young man must have felt very desperate when he resorted to such a terrible act.
He was caught in the very act of stealing it.
It is a childish act.
It is an act of folly.
Does the medicine act on the stomach?
Does the medicine act quickly?
I'll act on your advice.
You must act under the leadership of your supervisor.
You must act more wisely.
These pills act on the heart.
If you act like a child, you will be treated as such.
An Englishman would act in a different way.
You must act according to your principles.

Movie subtitles

When other people say something, you act as if nothing happened but when I say something..
Well, Elder McKinley, I think it's okay that you're having gay thoughts. Just so long as you never act upon them.
Listen, you better get your act together, young lady, or you're gonna run this new life off in the ditch.
You are a class act. Ooh. Ooh.
Just act normal, and at a certain point, the Commandant will contact you.
Guys, my parents are coming in for their anniversary party and their flight gets in in, like, six hours and they're gonna want to come by here on their way to Josh's, so can we clean this place up so they finally think I have my act together?
I'm a black man, okay? All I got to do is puff up my chest and act a little gangster.
Then I just act crazy, man.
One day you'll understand that you don't always have to act like an idiot to get what you want.
Oh, my God. Which is why we need to act fast.
I don't see much of a future for us if you continue to act this way.
My duty is to act in my patient's best interests.
I'll feel uneasy once you get killed for nothing, or when you act out of despair.
Get real pretty and act the same.
He's an interpreter and I'll act as medical officer in Oran.
Even women are getting into the act.
Big surprise. Don't act like this is her fault.
You're under arrest for violating the International Terrorism Prevention Act.
Act I.
Act II.
End of Act II.
End of Act III.
Act IV.
End of Act IV.
Act VI.
Vakulinchuk decided to act.
A three-act play by Henryk Bielecki.
Let's go to the next act.
So, here's the thing that makes most kids happy, but the teachers act like the peanut is the devil's bean.
The whole thing was an act.
Before we act, we must first talk to Nick.
Right - there may be a solution but we have to act now.
Just let him continue being anxious for a while. Now he should be able to see that we are teasing Lee Jae Sin. The Royal Committee, in accordance with Article 14 Section 2 of the Royal Family Act, hereby selects Princess Lee Jae Sin for inheritance.
They really know how to act pretentiously.
SO THAT, EITHER WAY, S-SHE COULD ACT DECISIVELY AND WITHOUT REGRET. IS THAT POSSIBLE?
You are a class act.
All I got to do is puff up my chest and act a little gangster.
What if they're black? - Then I just act crazy, man.
Which is why we need to act fast.
It simply is an act of self deception to put that kind of religious interpretation on out of thought.

News and current affairs

Any train accident or airplane crash is now at first suspected of being an act of terrorism.
In our wrenching postcommunist transition, it is essential that a government can act decisively.
To me, uncertainty should make us act more resolutely today, not less.
But he rarely seems to act on the basis of raw sentiment or instinctive prejudice.
He would not be afraid to act, but he would be prepared to think first.
The EU could act as a magnet to bring the region closer together by bringing the region as a whole closer to Europe.
It has so far failed to act.
For domestic demand to act as an engine of growth, policies should shift resources from investment to consumption.
This is reflected in Sarkozy's openly pro-American stance - an act of political courage in a France where anti-Americanism is running high.
If they act at all, they mobilize peacekeepers, international sanctions, and humanitarian aid.
In other words, we must act in accordance with the recognition that climate change and its effects on people in both rich and poor countries remains a threat to global security.
Given the long lead time between project preparation and the first benefits of emissions reductions, project developers have only a few years to act before carbon payments cease to make a meaningful contribution to project finance in the current context.
LONDON - Even after the passage of new financial regulations in the United States, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the publication of the Basel Committee's new capital requirements, the financial sector's prospects over the next few years remain highly uncertain.
During any lull, a fanatic from either side could jump to center stage and, through an act of utter madness, kick up the settling dust and dash the hopes of the many on both sides who still long for a lasting peace.
Yet none of them act on that principle in other areas.
But the international community, too, must act with great care.
If European leaders do plan to meet in 2014 in Sarajevo, they should act now.
Still, the Court should not hesitate to act outside Africa when mass atrocities demand redress.
That is all the more reason to act out of compassion and with generosity.
From Liberia to the Congo, the predicament of the African continent today demands that the press act not only as a watchdog, but as a goad.
Failing to act now will increase costs in the future - both financial and humanitarian.
The moment to act is now.
Compared to 2008-2009, when policymakers had ample space to act, monetary and fiscal authorities are running out of policy bullets (or, more cynically, policy rabbits to pull out of their hats).
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