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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 But the act has never been used to end a military conflict.
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Dustin Gardiner, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area lawmakers slam Trump for drone strike that killed Iranian general," 3 Jan. 2020 But there was more to this perception than the simple act of reading texts.
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Time, "Why the U.S. Sent Librarians Undercover to Gather Intelligence During World War II," 3 Jan. 2020 The 50 or so pages of revisions that the Council on Environmental Quality is expected to make public on Wednesday would not amend the act itself.
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Lisa Friedman, New York Times, "Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning," 3 Jan. 2020 Even DeRozan — a player famously allergic to the 3-point line — has gotten into the act.
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Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs finding better things coming in threes," 3 Jan. 2020 Pushed by foster care alumni, the act also aims to restrict federal spending for group homes and other congregate care facilities that house six or more children.
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Washington Post, "‘We are just destroying these kids’: The foster children growing up inside detention centers," 31 Dec. 2019 The simple act of watching in 3D caused eye strain in a significant chunk of the population.
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Brian Barrett, Wired, "3D TV Tells You Everything About This Decade’s Tech," 31 Dec. 2019 Whether in the old days or now, impeachment happens when the Senate is presented with the act of impeachment — which triggers the trial, as the Senate rules say.
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Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, "Noah Feldman: If Trump’s impeached, then why can’t a Senate trial start now?," 30 Dec. 2019 Dayan called on leaders at every level, from college campuses to the federal government, to speak out against the acts.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Jewish leaders urge action after another ‘senseless’ attack," 30 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb State officials have so far declined to act on that order.
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cleveland, "Population estimates show Flyover states will lose influence following 2020: The Flyover," 6 Jan. 2020 But most countries have been slow to act on their promises.
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Davide Castelvecchi, Scientific American, "Watch Out for These Science Events in 2020," 30 Dec. 2019 Tetra sidesteps 2006’s Colorado Indoor Clean Air Act, which banned smoking in most public, indoor spaces, by acting as a private club that sells daily memberships for $20 a pop (or $60 per month).
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John Wenzel, The Know, "Starting Jan. 1, Coloradans will have more options for consuming cannabis in public. But will we catch up to California?," 27 Dec. 2019 The notion that employees are entitled to distraction-free lives outside work—like most other values companies cultivate over time—has to come straight from the top, or no one will act on it.
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Anne Fisher, Fortune, "Most People Will Be Working During the Holidays Because They Can," 26 Dec. 2019 The transcript of Patterson's interview paints a picture of a man who acted on impulse and controlled Jayme's movements around the cabin where she was held more than an hour away from her family home.
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Fox News, "Jayme Closs' captor manipulated her, admitted to having sexual fantasies of the teen, new documents reveal," 22 Dec. 2019 The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, acting on behalf of the New Prospect Baptist Church, brought the case to the appellate court in a bid to upend the county's ban on homeless encampments that has been in place since 2018.
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Erin Glynn, Cincinnati.com, "Hamilton County ban on homeless camps partially overturned by state appeals court," 20 Dec. 2019 The transcript of Patterson’s interview paints a picture of a man who acted on impulse and controlled Jayme’s movements around the cabin where she was held in northwestern Wisconsin.
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Amy Forliti, Twin Cities, "In police interviews, kidnapper believed Jayme Closs would never escape. He was wrong.," 20 Dec. 2019 In Louisiana, Scott Sutterfield left his position in September as acting director of ICE’s field office in New Orleans and immediately took an executive position at LaSalle Corrections.
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USA Today, "'These people are profitable': Under Trump, private prisons are cashing in on ICE detainees," 20 Dec. 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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