1
2
as in show
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in law
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thing
something done by someone
it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to play
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
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2
3
4
5
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to mock
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 & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of act
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Signs might include pacing, whining, excessive barking, destructive acts, accidents in the house and excessive salivation, drooling or panting.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin emphasized Europe's readiness to act.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Noun
As a kid growing up in Macclesfield, Ellis loved MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, and other indie acts.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
Signs might include pacing, whining, excessive barking, destructive acts, accidents in the house and excessive salivation, drooling or panting.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Verb
His other acting credits include the Fargo series, the limited series The Offer and the Life in Pieces series.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin emphasized Europe's readiness to act.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for act
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act
Noun
-
This, in turn, provoked police to wade into the crowd, beating people with nightsticks.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
10 June 2025
-
Four other projects by the band — Animals, The Division Bell, The Early Years – 1965–1972, and Transmissions + 1969 — all managed just a single turn ruling the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
In your downtime, indulge in some HGTV shows or home-improvement reels on Instagram for inspiration.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 June 2025
-
Blanchfield’s management team reported that she will be paid her full show and win money for UFC Vegas 107.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Asian Americans’ outrage over a judge’s leniency in the case — the assailants received $3,000 fines and no jail time — sparked a surge of activism seeking tougher hate crime laws nationwide.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
-
Sunday marks the first batch — 83, to be exact — to become law.—
Hannah Gaskill,
Baltimore Sun,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Real Madrid is closing in on Argentina’s next big thing As reported by various outlets, Real Madrid is closing in on Mastantuono after sending a delegation to Buenos Aires last week.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Sick to death of being poor, Lucy ended things with John.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy on that HBO drama, was nominated (and went on to win!), following in the footsteps of her costars Jeremy Strong and Keiran Culkin.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
9 June 2025
-
The band then went on to play its way through the rest of the Village, cranking out cartoon theme song medleys between the sets as mostly white kids thrashed in the crowd.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
And then there’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are no longer working royals and whose relationship with the rest of the family is strained at best.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
31 May 2025
-
The data doesn't lie: vaccines work, including against COVID-19.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The ancestral Menominee community that built the agricultural system uncovered by this new research, however, seems to have been less populous and hierarchical than a place like Cahokia, showing that large-scale agriculture may have been a part of life in very different kinds of societies.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
6 June 2025
-
The issue is not limited to the United States (although the US seems to have a higher share of such cases).—
Milad Haghani,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The 175-footer serves as the central hub during the team’s global fishing tour, transporting smaller fishing boats, tons of fuel, and toys such as a two-person submersible, KTM electric dirt bikes, and a Bell 505 helicopter.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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Dunham serves as writer and director, and executive produces alongside Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Michael P. Cohen, Surian Fletcher-Jones and Bruce Eric Kaplan.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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