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\ 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
verbacted; acting; acts
Definition of act (Entry 2 of 5)
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
1a : to represent or perform by action especially on the stage
will act the part of Romeo in tonight's play
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.
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
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Other Words from act
Verb
actability \ ˌak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē \ noun
\ nounactable \ ˈak-tə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjective
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the meantime, Gilead is still piecing together its third act.
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Damian Garde, STAT, "Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day says company is in an ‘acquisitive mode’," 20 Nov. 2019 Only this second act has a few complications not experienced in the recovery that ended with the iconic 2nd-and-26 final bow.
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Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "Making sense of snake bit Alabama’s season of bizarre injuries, why it’s not like 2017," 19 Nov. 2019 Who knows whether WeWork will pull its act together, but the brush with death came a bit too much out of the blue.
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Wired, "Every Startup Needs to Prepare for Its Downfall," 19 Nov. 2019 Muller said Hastings’ outstanding dedication to the Katy through his selfless acts shows him to be a shining example of the type of person the lodge seeks to honor.
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Karen Zurawski, Houston Chronicle, "Katy Masonic Lodge honors mayor for service," 19 Nov. 2019 Here, breakout star Josh O’Connor talks to BAZAAR.com about portraying the longest-waiting heir in history and what’s in store for his next act.
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Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "The breakout star explains Charles’s investiture, Camilla Shand relationship, and tensions with the queen in Season 3.," 18 Nov. 2019 Don ArnoldGetty Images In her latest act of charitable goodness, Katie Holmes traveled to Sydney, Australia to volunteer with Ronald McDonald House for McHappy Day.
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Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Katie Holmes Spent the Weekend Playing with Koala Bears and I Can Barely Handle It," 17 Nov. 2019 Verlander continued a marvelous second act to his career since a 2017 trade from Detroit to Houston.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Jacob deGrom," 14 Nov. 2019 Verlander continued a marvelous second act to his career since a 2017 trade from Detroit to Houston.
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Jake Seiner, The Denver Post, "Astros’ Verlander, Mets’ deGrom win 2nd Cy Young Awards," 14 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Instead, acts like Lizzo, BJ the Chicago Kid, PJ Morton and Anderson .Paak were overloaded with multiple R&B nominations.
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Washington Post, "15 Grammy facts: Michelle Obama in, Bruce Springsteen out," 20 Nov. 2019 The Tsunami Stage hosted house acts like Justin Martin, Prok + Fitch, J. Worra, Gorgon City and Dom Dolla, as cool blue lights depicted the visuals of rushing waters.
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Megan Venzin, Billboard, "Brace For Impact: A Definitive Ranking of the Sonic Activity at Austin's Seismic Dance Event," 20 Nov. 2019 Over time, the gravitational pull is toward acting like rude New York City bus drivers.
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Jon Caldara, The Denver Post, "Caldara: A little competition would help RTD’s driver shortage," 19 Nov. 2019 And it’s beautifully done, beautifully written, beautifully acted. .
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Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Did Princess Anne Really Sleep with Camilla's First Husband, Andrew Parker Bowles?," 18 Nov. 2019 While Samuel West went to Oxford to study English literature in the mid-80s, acting was ultimately his calling.
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Bianca Rodriguez, Marie Claire, "Who Was Sir Anthony Blunt, the Queen's "Art Advisor"?," 17 Nov. 2019 Pay special attention to any new hire that uses pity or acting like a victim to influence you to keep him or her.
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Dr. Daneen Skube, chicagotribune.com, "Don’t ignore red flags of new hire; end it now," 14 Nov. 2019 The concrete, which is heated, acts like a heating pad and slowly releases it over time.
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Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The CEO of Spancrete partnered with his business to transform his 1842 Delafield home," 11 Nov. 2019 The Peroni x Jonathan Adler bar cart is available for purchase for a limited time only, so act fast.
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Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "Jonathan Adler Teams Up with Peroni on a Luxurious Bar Cart," 5 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for act
act
nounEnglish 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
verbEnglish 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
verbacted; 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)
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
abbreviationMedical Definition of act (Entry 3 of 3)
active
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act
nounLegal 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
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
Other Words from act
actor \ ˈak-tər \ noun
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Time Traveler for act
The first known use of act was in the 14th century
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