act up

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verb

Definition of ACT UP

1

to behave badly <the two-year-old was acting up in church so much that her dad had to take her outside>

Synonyms act out, act up, carry on

Related Words misconduct; disobey, rebel; clown (around), cut up, fool around, horse around, kid (around); show off; roughhouse

Near Antonyms obey; acquit, act, bear, comport, conduct, demean, deport, quit; comply, conform; check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, move, quiet, repress, restrain

2

to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <you should have seen the boys acting up when they put on their aprons>

Synonyms act up, clown (around), fool around, horse around, hotdog, monkey (around), showboat, show off, skylark

Related Words carry on, misbehave; roughhouse; caper, cavort, disport, frisk, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp; carouse, maffick, revel, roar, wassail