act

act

verb

Definition of ACT

1

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 do, impersonate, interpret, perform, play, portray

Related Words depict, dramatize, render, represent; act out, enact, pantomime, playact, role-play, take on; overact, overplay, underplay; ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as); star (in); coact, costar

2

to produce a desired effect <the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly>

Synonyms operate, perform, take, work

Related Words behave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, result

Phrases take effect, take hold

Near Antonyms backfire; fizzle

3

to give the impression of being <always acting helpless, just to get attention>

Synonyms act, appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, sound

Related Words dissemble, pretend; recall, resemble, suggest; hint, imply, insinuate

4

to have a certain purpose <the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects>

Synonyms act, perform, serve, work

Related Words operate, run; administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise

5

to present a false appearance of <if you act confidence long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it>

Synonyms act, affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate

Related Words dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose; forge, imitate; camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask; feint; malinger

6

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 act, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as)

Related Words ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, monkey, parody, travesty; perform, portray