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acting - 5 dictionary results
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act⋅ing

  [ak-ting]
Use acting in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving temporarily, esp. as a substitute during another's absence; not permanent; temporary: the acting mayor.
2. designed, adapted, or suitable for stage performance.
3. provided with detailed stage directions for the performer: an acting version of a play.
–noun
4. the art, profession, or activity of those who perform in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.
Origin:
1595–1605; act + -ing 2 , -ing 1

Synonyms:
1. provisional, interim.
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act

  [akt]
–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. one 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. Philosophy. (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. to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.
15. to pretend; feign: Act interested even if you're bored.
16. to perform as an actor: He acted in three plays by Molière.
17. to be capable of being performed: His plays don't act well.
18. to serve or substitute (usually fol. by for): In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.
–verb (used with object)
19. 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.
—Verb phrases
23. act on or 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, esp. after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.
26. get or have one's act together, Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently: The new administration is still getting its act together.
—Idioms
27. 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; ME act(e) (< MF) < L ācta, pl. of āctum something done, n. use of ptp. of agere to do (āg- ptp. s. + -tum neut. ptp. suffix); and directly < L āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)

Synonyms:
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. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To acting
act   (ākt)   
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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
  11. To express (unconscious impulses, for example) in an overt manner without conscious understanding or regard for social appropriateness.
  12. To misbehave.
  13. To malfunction.
  14. 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.
Phrasal Verb(s):
act out
    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.

Idiom(s):
be in on the actTo be included in an activity.

Idiom(s):
clean up (one's) act Slang To improve one's behavior or performance.

Idiom(s):
get into the actTo insert oneself into an ongoing activity, project, or situation.

Idiom(s):
get (one's) act together Slang 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; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
ac'ta·bil'i·ty n., 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.
act·ing   (āk'tĭng)   
adj.  
  1. Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of another. See Synonyms at temporary.
    1. That contains directions for use in a dramatic performance: the play's acting text.
    2. That is appropriate for dramatic performance: an acting comedy.
n.  
  1. The occupation of an actor or actress.
  2. Performance as an actor or actress.
  3. False behavior; pretense.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Acting

Act"ing\, a. 1. Operating in any way.

2. Doing duty for another; officiating; as, an acting superintendent.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : acting
Spanish: en funciones,
German: amtierend,
Japanese: 代理の
More Translations »
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