Synonyms of act

act 1 of 2

noun

ˈakt 

1

as in turn

a performance regularly presented by an individual or group

in his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turn
• routine
• number
• bit
• schtick
• shtick
• signature
• shtik

2

as in show

a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive

was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• show
• pretense
• guise
• facade
• pose
• pretence
• masquerade
• front
• charade
• disguise
• airs
• façade
• semblance
• performance
• playacting
• cloak
• pretext
• appearance
• portrayal
• put-on
• impersonation
• persona
• image
• excuse
• betrayal
• deception
• treason
• duplicity
• treachery
• camouflage
• fraud
• deceit
• gloss
• affectation
• dissimulation
• perfidy
• guile
• dissembling
• color
• double-dealing
• faithlessness
• falseness
• unfaithfulness
• double cross
• infidelity
• fakery
• falsity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• frankness
• directness
• candor
• bluntness
• outspokenness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• naïveté
• naiveté
• candidness
• plainspokenness
• genuineness
• openheartedness
• artlessness
• naivete

3

as in law

a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature

the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access

Synonyms & Similar Words

• law
• bill
• ordinance
• amendment
• legislation
• enactment
• statute
• constitution
• prohibition
• edict
• regulation
• decree
• rule
• ruling
• commandment
• directive
• fiat
• common law
• dictate
• martial law
• ground rule
• command
• restriction
• bylaw
• blue law
• proscription
• canon
• capitulary
• encyclical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• higher law

4

as in thing

something done by someone

it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thing
• action
• doing
• deed
• feat
• achievement
• accomplishment
• exploit
• experience
• activity
• performance
• initiative
• work
• undertaking
• attainment
• adventure
• proceeding
• move
• enterprise
• stunt
• procedure
• dealing
• operation
• trick
• tactic
• step
• maneuver
• measure
• handiwork
• emprise
• coaction

act

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to play

to present a portrayal or performance of

a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• perform
• portray
• interpret
• do
• depict
• represent
• impersonate
• enact
• act out
• dramatize
• render
• imitate
• mimic
• take on
• pose (as)
• masquerade
• playact
• pantomime
• role-play
• overact
• ape
• mime
• ham
• underplay
• overplay
• star (in)
• coact
• clown
• costar

2

as in to work

to produce a desired effect

the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• work
• perform
• operate
• react
• take
• take effect
• respond
• result
• behave
• take hold
• affect
• influence
• sway
• pan out
• redound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backfire
• fizzle

3

as in to seem

to give the impression of being

always acting helpless, just to get attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seem
• feel
• look
• sound
• appear
• make
• pretend
• come across (as)
• come off (as)
• resemble
• suggest
• imply
• recall
• dissemble
• hint
• insinuate

4

as in to serve

to have a certain purpose

the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serve
• function
• work
• perform
• operate
• regulate
• control
• manage
• run
• direct
• handle
• guide
• carry on
• administer
• supervise
• oversee

5

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of

if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pretend
• assume
• simulate
• affect
• pass (for)
• feign
• profess
• make believe
• bluff
• put on
• dissemble
• pose
• play
• counterfeit
• fake
• conceal
• sham
• imitate
• forge
• masquerade
• let on
• playact
• disguise
• impersonate
• mask
• dissimulate
• camouflage
• feint
• malinger

6

as in to mock

to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior

someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• mock
• imitate
• pose (as)
• masquerade (as)
• personate
• portray
• impersonate
• parody
• mimic
• perform
• copy
• ape
• mime
• travesty
• monkey

Examples of act in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Taipei, Taiwan Reuters — A real Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said on Wednesday after last week’s drills by China that practiced such a scenario. —Reuters, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024

Neeson could certainly have a third act as a comedy star. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

In August 2023, federal agents from Homeland Security and the Department of Defense acted on information from Crye and Amazon to raid facilities in Texas and California. —Annie Palmer,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024

These nuns will also act as silent servants, ferrying the men’s food from kitchen to table with cheerful acquiescence. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing act

• act (toward)
• act out
• act up
• clean up one's act
• get one's act together
• put on an act
• read the riot act (to)
• riot act
• sex act