| 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)
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| 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. |
| 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. |
| 23. | act on or upon,
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| 24. | act out,
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| 25. | act up,
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| 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. |
| 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. |
