Nearby Words
noun
1.
anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.
2.
the process of doing: caught in the act.
3.
a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award: an act of Congress.
4.
an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.
5.
EXPANDone of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.
6.
a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.
7.
the personnel of such a group: The act broke up after 30 years.
8.
false show; pretense; feint: The politician's pious remarks were all an act.
9.
COLLAPSEPhilosophy. (in scholasticism)
a.
activity in process; operation.
b.
the principle or power of operation.
c.
form as determining essence.
d.
a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.
verb (used without object)
10.
to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative: He acted promptly in the emergency.
11.
to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter: I am required to act before noon tomorrow.
12.
to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions: to act as manager.
13.
to produce an effect; perform a function: The medicine failed to act.
14.
EXPANDto behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.
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Act up
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
verb (used with object)
Verb phrases19.
to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person: to act Macbeth.
20.
to feign; counterfeit: to act outraged virtue.
21.
to behave as: He acted the fool.
22.
Obsolete. to actuate.
23.
act on/upon,
a.
to act in accordance with; follow: He acted on my advice.
b.
to have an effect on; affect: The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.
24.
act out,
a.
to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures: The party guests acted out stories for one another.
b.
Psychology. to give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding: The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.
25.
act up,
a.
to fail to function properly; malfunction: The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
b.
to behave willfully: The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
c.
to become painful or troublesome, especially after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.
26.
Idioms27.
act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.
28.
act one's age, to behave in a manner appropriate to one's maturity: We children enjoyed our uncle because he didn't always act his age.
29.
clean up one's act, Informal. to begin adhering to more acceptable practices, rules of behavior, etc.: The factory must clean up its act and treat its employees better.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English act(e) (< Middle French ) < Latin ācta, plural of āctum something done, noun use of past participle of agere to do (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly < Latin āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)
1350–1400; Middle English act(e) (< Middle French ) < Latin ācta, plural of āctum something done, noun use of past participle of agere to do (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly < Latin āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)
Related forms
mis·act, verb (used without object)
post·act, noun
pre·act, verb (used with object)
un·act·ed, adjective
well-act·ed, adjective
Synonyms
1. feat, exploit; achievement; transaction; accomplishment. See action. 4. record. 6. turn, routine. 23–13. perform, function, work. 15, 16. play.
1. feat, exploit; achievement; transaction; accomplishment. See action. 4. record. 6. turn, routine. 23–13. perform, function, work. 15, 16. play.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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|
Link To act up
Collins
World English Dictionary
| act up | |
| —vb | |
| informal (intr, adverb) to behave in a troublesome way: the engine began to act up when we were miles from anywhere | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
act
late 14c., from O.Fr. acte, from L. actus "a doing" and actum "a thing done," both from agere "to do, set in motion, drive, urge, chase, stir up," from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move" (cf. Gk. agein "to lead, guide, drive, carry off," agon "assembly, contest in the games," agogos "leader;"
EXPANDSkt. ajati "drives," ajirah "moving, active;" O.N. aka "to drive;" M.Ir. ag "battle"). Theatrical (1510s) and legislative (mid-15c.) senses of the word also were in Latin. The verb is first attested late 15c.; in the theatrical performance sense it is from 1590s. In the act "in the process" is from 1590s, originally from the 16c. sense of the act as "sexual intercourse." Act of God "uncontrollable natural force" first recorded 1882. To act out "behave anti-socially" (1974) is from psychiatric sense of "expressing one's unconscious impulses or desires."
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
act up
-
Misbehave. For example, With an inexperienced rider, this horse always acts up. [c. 1900]
-
Malfunction, as in I'm not sure what's wrong with my car, but the transmission is acting up. In both usages up means "abnormally."
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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