act    Audio Help   /ækt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[akt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–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.

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[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.

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