act

noun

\ ˈakt

Definition of act

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : the doing of a thing : deed an act of courage

b law : something done voluntarily

2 : the process of doing something : action caught in the act

3 : the formal product of a legislative body : statute an act of Congress also : a decision or determination of a sovereign, a legislative council, or a court of justice

4 : one of the principal divisions of a theatrical work (such as a play or opera) a play in three acts

5a : one of successive parts or performances (as in a variety show or circus) a magic act

b : the performer or performers in such an act a two-person comedy act

c : a performance or presentation identified with a particular individual or group They took their act on the road.

d : the sum of a person's actions or effects that serve to create an impression or set an example a hard act to follow

6 : a display of affected behavior : pretense put on an act that deceived nobody His friendly concern was just an act.

7 often capitalized : a formal record of something done or transacted

8 : a state of real existence rather than possibility

into the act or in on the act

: into an undertaking or situation as an active participant saw the success they were having and wanted to get in on the act

act

verb

acted; acting; acts

Definition of act (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to take action : move think before acting acted favorably on the recommendation

2 : to conduct oneself : behave act like a fool

3a : to perform on the stage began acting at the age of eight

b : to behave as if performing on the stage : pretend seemed angry but was just acting

4 : to perform a specified function : serve trees acting as a windbreak

5 : to produce an effect : work wait for a medicine to act

6 : to give a decision or award adjourned without acting on the bill

7 of a play : to be capable of being performed a play that acts well

transitive verb

1a : to represent or perform by action especially on the stage will act the part of Romeo in tonight's play

b : feign, simulate act indifference

c : impersonate

2 : to play the part of as if in a play act the man of the world

3 : to behave in a manner suitable to Act your age.

4 obsolete : actuate, animate

act

abbreviation (1)

Definition of act (Entry 3 of 5)

1 active

2 actor

3 actual

ACT

abbreviation (2)

Definition of ACT (Entry 4 of 5)

1 Action for Children's Television

2 Association of Classroom Teachers

3 Australian Capital Territory

ACT

trademark

\ ˌā-ˌsē-ˈtē\

Definition of ACT (Entry 5 of 5)

—used for a standardized achievement test to evaluate suitability for college admission

Other Words from act Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about act

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Examples of act in a Sentence

Noun

We were grateful for her many acts of kindness. the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the first act, two characters are talking in a restaurant.

Verb

He knew he had to act quickly. The government was slow to act. She acted on behalf of her father, who was not at the meeting. I believe that the killer acted alone. She had acted in self-defense when she killed her attacker. We were acting in the best interests of our children. We must act soon to end this crisis. She learned at an early age how to act properly in social situations. People are always telling me how I should act and what I should say. I noticed that the dog was acting funny this morning.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Like their customers, then, companies face a balancing act. — The Economist, "Electric-scooter startups are becoming more cautious," 8 June 2019 No matter how lavish Chase Center turns out to be, Oakland’s statuesque arena is a hard act to follow. — John King, SFChronicle.com, "A look at why pro basketball and Oracle Arena were a perfect fit," 7 June 2019 From the outset, police did not believe the killings were a random act. — Mark Puente, latimes.com, "Police arrest three suspects in Porter Ranch triple homicide," 6 June 2019 And was General de Gaulle’s insistence on claiming a French share of the fight, despite the absence of French troops, a mad act of vanity, or a sage realization of the necessity of keeping a battle fought in France at least symbolically French? — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, "Europe and America Seventy-Five Years After D Day," 6 June 2019 Feeling at ease in a public space, especially for those who identify as women, can be an impossible balancing act, says Laura Logan, a sociology professor at Hastings College in New Hampshire who studies street harassment. — Marina Koren, The Atlantic, "The Case for Wearing AirPods All the Time," 5 June 2019 Hill was pronounced dead at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park at 9:25 a.m. Area North detectives are investigating and believe the shooting was not a random act and that the woman was targeted due to gang conflicts, Tannehill said. — CBS News, "Leaked Chicago police video shows fatal shooting of mother holding her baby," 3 June 2019 This time around, Kylie is being dragged for a video posted across the Kylie Skin social media accounts of her washing her face with the Foaming Face Wash and wiping it dry with a white face towel--a harmless act at first glance. — Scarlett Newman, Teen Vogue, "Beauty Twitter Is Coming For Kylie Jenner Over Her Face Washing Technique," 31 May 2019 Google might give Android away for free, but its shareholders should understand that the ubiquitous mobile operating system isn’t a charity act. — Dan Gallagher, WSJ, "U.S.-China Trade War Could Block Android’s Two-Way Street," 21 May 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Game of Thrones was Harrington’s first acting credit and his role as Jon Snow catapulted him into fame. — Alexis Reliford, refinery29.com, "Kit Harington Is Getting Better All The Time, Reports Say," 9 June 2019 Some trustees have acted outside their scope of office by directing the reassignment of certain employees, and some attempted to intimidate district personnel for the trustees’ own benefit, the report states. — Krista Torralva, ExpressNews.com, "TEA recommends replacing entire Harlandale ISD board; naming conservator," 7 June 2019 Globally, threats to democracy are acting in full force. — Christian Science Monitor, "World | Progress Watch," 7 June 2019 The next central bank president won't be able to tackle that problem by acting alone, according to analysts. — Julia Horowitz, CNN, "Mario Draghi saved the euro. His replacement also faces a daunting task," 6 June 2019 The program allows the comptroller to collect unpaid debt, such as parking tickets, red light camera fees, municipal fines and other types of money owed, essentially acting as the East Dundee’s collection agency, according to village documents. — Erin Sauder, Elgin Courier-News, "East Dundee signs on to collect unpaid fees and fines by using state comptroller's payment program," 6 June 2019 From the shrublands to the subalpine forests, fire—an integral part of any healthy landscape—is now acting as an adaptation catalyst that’s rapidly reshaping entire ecosystems. — Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, "Wildfire Smoke Is Here to Stay," 5 June 2019 Personal welfare, Loganberry Drive: Officers responded to an apartment around 1 a.m. May 30 after a woman reported her sister was acting strange after arriving home from smoking marijuana with a friend. — cleveland.com, "Woman follows man who she said kidnapped her sister: Richmond Heights Police Blotter," 5 June 2019 Every day that government fails to act is another day that vulnerable Californians lose the ability to pay for housing. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, "Editorial: Don’t give up on efforts to house the homeless," 4 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'act.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for act

Noun

Middle English acte, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acte, act, borrowed partly from Latin āctus "driving of cattle, track for cattle, movement, activity, performance, part of a play" (action noun from agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do"), partly from Latin āctum (usually in plural) "thing done, public transaction, record," from neuter of āctus, past participle of agere — more at agent

Verb

Middle English acten "to act upon, adjudicate," in part derivative of act act entry 1, in part borrowed from Latin āctus, past participle of agere

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Dictionary Entries near act

acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene

Statistics for act

Last Updated

11 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for act

The first known use of act was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for act

act

noun

English Language Learners Definition of act

(Entry 1 of 2)

: something that is done

: a law made by a group of legislators

: one of the main divisions of a play or opera

act

verb

English Language Learners Definition of act (Entry 2 of 2)

: to do something : to take action

: to behave in a particular way

: to behave in a way that is not sincere or honest

See the full definition for act in the English Language Learners Dictionary

act

noun

\ ˈakt

Kids Definition of act

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something that is done : deed an act of bravery

2 : a law made by a governing body

3 : a main division of a play

4 : one of the performances in a show a juggling act

5 : an insincere way of behaving Her crying was just an act.

act

verb

acted; acting

Kids Definition of act (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to do something : move It's important to act quickly in an emergency.

2 : to behave oneself in a certain way He's been acting strangely.

3 : to perform as a character in a play Both stars agreed to act in the movie.

4 : to perform a certain function She'll act as our guide.

5 : to have a result : make something happen : work The medicine acts on the heart.

act up

: to behave badly

act

noun

\ ˈakt

Medical Definition of act

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a motor performance leading to a definite result

2 : a dealing with objects (as by moving, perceiving, or desiring them)

act

intransitive verb

Medical Definition of act (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to perform an act : behave

2 : to produce an effect wait for a medicine to act

act

abbreviation

Medical Definition of act (Entry 3 of 3)

active

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act

noun

Legal Definition of act

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : something done by a person in accordance with his or her free will a tortious act — see also actus reus

b : the failure to do something that one has a legal duty to do

— called also negative act

2a often capitalized : the formal product of a legislative body : the formally declared will of a legislature the final requirement of which is usually the signature of the proper executive officer : statute an act of Congress in furtherance of the purposes…of that act — U.S. Code

b : a decision or determination of a sovereign, a legislative council, or a court of justice — compare bill sense 1

3 often capitalized : a formal record of something done or transacted given as my free act and deed

act

intransitive verb

Legal Definition of act (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to carry into effect a determination of the will : take action

2 : to discharge the duties of a specified office or post : perform a specified function —used with a prepositional phrase declaring what officer shall then act as President — U.S. Constitution art. II

3 : to give a decision or award (as by vote of a deliberative body or by judicial decree) —often used with on adjourned with several important matters still not acted on