Act Definition

ăkt
acted, acting, acts
noun
acts
The process of doing or performing something.
The act of thinking.
American Heritage
A thing done; deed.
Webster's New World
Something done or performed; a deed.
A charitable act.
American Heritage
An action; doing.
Caught in the act of stealing.
Webster's New World
Something done that has legal significance.
A criminal act.
American Heritage
verb
acted, acting, acts
To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of.
She plans to act Ophelia in summer stock.
American Heritage
To play the part of.
Webster's New World
To perform in a play, film, etc.; play a role.
Webster's New World
To perform (a role) on the stage.
Act the part of the villain.
American Heritage
To perform in (a play)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
abbreviation
Australian Capital Territory.
American Heritage
Active.
Webster's New World
American College Test.
Webster's New World
adjective

Abbreviation of acting.

Wiktionary

(grammar) Abbreviation of active.

Wiktionary

Abbreviation of actual.

Wiktionary
idiom
be in on the act
  • To be included in an activity.
American Heritage
clean up (one's) act
  • To improve one's behavior or performance.
American Heritage
get into the act
  • To insert oneself into an ongoing activity, project, or situation.
American Heritage
get (one's) act together
  • To get organized.
American Heritage
act out
  • to behave in a way that unconsciously expresses (feelings that were repressed in an earlier situation)
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Act

Noun

Singular:
act
Plural:
Acts

Origin of Act

  • Middle English from Old French acte from Latin āctus a doing, āctum a thing done both from past participle of agere to drive, do ag- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Old French acte, from Latin ācta (“register of events”), plural of āctum (“decree, law”), from agō (“put in motion”).

    From Wiktionary

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