Act

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Act, n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See Agent.].

•  That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.  [1913 Webster]

  "That best portion of a good man's life,
  His little, nameless, unremembered acts
  Of kindness and of love."  [1913 Webster]
•  A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence.  [1913 Webster]

  "The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be."  [1913 Webster]
•  Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing).  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

  "This woman was taken . . . in the very act."  [1913 Webster]

Act of attainder. (Law) See Attainder. -- Act of bankruptcy (Law), an act of a debtor which renders him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt. -- Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.) See Auto-da-Fé. -- Act of God (Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard. -- Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign. -- Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties. Abbott. -- Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a matter of record.

Syn. -- See Action.

Act, v. t. [L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n.].

•  To move to action; to actuate; to animate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul."  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform; to execute; to do.  [1913 Webster]

  "That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity."  [1913 Webster]

  "Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do."  [1913 Webster]

  "Uplifted hands that at convenient times
  Could act extortion and the worst of crimes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.  [1913 Webster]
•  To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.  [1913 Webster]
•  To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.  [1913 Webster]

  "With acted fear the villain thus pursued."  [1913 Webster]

To act a part, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble. -- To act the part of, to take the character of; to fulfill the duties of.

Act, v. i. 

•  To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts upon food.  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a determination of the will.  [1913 Webster]

  "He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest."  [1913 Webster]
•  To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has acted so.  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform on the stage; to represent a character.  [1913 Webster]

  "To show the world how Garrick did not act."  [1913 Webster]

To act as or To act for, to do the work of; to serve as. -- To act on, to regulate one's conduct according to. -- To act up to, to equal in action; to fulfill in practice; as, he has acted up to his engagement or his advantages.<-- to act up, to misbehave -->

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Act, abbr. Australian Capital Territory.

Act, n. & v.
--n.
1 something done; a deed; an action.
2 the process of doing something (caught in the act).
3 a a piece of entertainment, usu. one of a series in a programme. b the performer(s) of this.
4 a pretence; behaviour intended to deceive or impress (it was all an act).
5 a main division of a play or opera.
6 a a written ordinance of a parliament or other legislative body. b a document attesting a legal transaction.
7 (often in pl.) the recorded decisions or proceedings of a committee, an academic body, etc.
8 (Acts) ( in full Acts of the Apostles) the New Testament book relating the growth of the early Church.
--v.
1 intr. behave (see how they act under stress).
2 intr. perform actions or functions; operate effectively; take action (act as referee; the brakes failed to act; we must act quickly).
3 intr. (also foll. by on) exert energy or influence (the medicine soon began to act; alcohol acts on the brain).
4 intr. a perform a part in a play, film, etc. b pretend.
5 tr. a perform the part of (acted Othello; acts the fool). b perform (a play etc.). c portray (an incident) by actions. d feign (we acted indifference).

Idiom

act for be the (esp. legal) representative of. act of God the operation of uncontrollable natural forces. act of grace a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right. act on (or upon) perform or carry out; put into operation (acted on my advice). act out
1 translate (ideas etc.) into action.
2 Psychol. represent (one's subconscious desires etc.) in action. act up colloq. misbehave; give trouble (my car is acting up again). get one's act together sl. become properly organized; make preparations for an undertaking etc. get into the act sl. become a participant (esp. for profit). put on an act colloq. carry out a pretence.

Derivative

actable adj. (in sense 5 of v.). actability n. (in sense 5 of v.).

Etymology

ME ult. f. L agere act- do

THESAURUS

Act

accomplish, accomplished fact, accomplishment, achieve, achievement, acquit, act, act a part, act as, act as foil, act out, acta, acting, action, actions, activism, activity, acts, address, adventure, affect, affectation, afterpiece, air, ape, appear, assume, barnstorm, be effective, be in action, be productive, bear, bearing, behave, behavior, behavior pattern, behavioral norm, behavioral science, bill, bit, blow, bluff, bring about, bring into being, bring to fruition, bylaw, canon, carriage, carry, cause, characterize, chaser, come out, comport, comportment, concurrent resolution, conduct, constitution, copy, counterfeit, coup, course, cover up, culture pattern, curtain, curtain call, curtain raiser, custom, dealings, decree, deed, demean, demeanor, deport, deportment, dictate, dictation, discourse, dissemble, dissimulate, divertimento, divertissement, do, doing, doings, edict, effectuate, effort, emote, emotionalize, employment, enact, enaction, enactment, endeavor, engineer, enterprise, epilogue, execute, exercise, exode, exodus, exploit, expository scene, fait accompli, fake, feat, feign, finale, folkway, form, formality, formula, formulary, four-flush, function, functioning, gammon, gest, gestures, get top billing, go, go on, goings-on, guise, hand, handiwork, have effect, have free play, have play, hoke act, impersonate, industrialize, institution, interlude, intermezzo, intermission, introduction, job, joint resolution, jus, law, lawmaking, legislation, legislature, let on, let on like, lex, maintien, make, make a pretense, make as if, make believe, make like, maneuver, manner, manners, masquerade, masquerade as, mass-produce, measure, method, methodology, methods, mien, militate, mime, mimic, misbehave, modus vivendi, motion, motions, move, movements, moves, number, observable behavior, occupation, officiate, operate, operation, operations, ordinance, ordonnance, overproduce, overt act, pantomime, pass for, passage, passing, patter, pattern, percolate, perform, performance, perk, personate, play, play a part, play possum, play the lead, playact, poise, port, portray, pose, pose as, posture, practice, praxis, prescript, prescription, presence, pretend, pretend to be, procedure, proceed, proceeding, process, produce, production, profess, prologue, put on, quit, react, realize, register, regulation, represent, res gestae, resolution, routine, rubric, rule, ruling, run, scene, serve, sham, shtick, simulate, sketch, skit, social science, song and dance, stand-up comedy act, standing order, star, statute, steal the show, step, stooge, striptease, stroke, stunt, style, swing, tactics, take, take effect, take off, thing, thing done, tick, tone, tour de force, transaction, tread the boards, troupe, turn, undertaking, upstage, volume-produce, way, way of life, ways, work, working, workings, works

ROGET THESAURUS

Act

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

VB act, play, perform, put on the stage, personate, mimic, enact, play a part, act a part, go through a part, perform a part, rehearse, spout, gag, rant, strut and fret one's hour upon a stage, tread the boards, tread the stage, come out, star it.

Business

VB pass one's time in, employ one's time in, spend one's time in, employ oneself in, employ oneself upon, occupy oneself with, concern oneself with, make it one's business, undertake, enter a profession, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, have to do with, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, drive a trade, carry on a trade, do a trade, transact a trade, carry on business, do business, transact business, keep a shop, ply one's task, ply one's trade, labor in one's vocation, pursue the even tenor of one's way, attend to business, attend to one's work, officiate, serve, act, act one's part, play one's part, do duty, serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of, hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation, hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation, be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on, have one's hands in, have in hand, have on one's hands, have on one's shoulders, bear the burden, have one's hands full, be in the hands of, be on the stocks, be on the anvil, pass through one's hands, Adj, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, Adv, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally.

Imitation

VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.

Action

N action, performance, doing perpetration, exercise, excitation, movement, operation, evolution, work, labor, praxis, execution, procedure, handicraft, business, agency, deed, act, overt act, stitch, touch, gest transaction, job, doings, dealings, proceeding, measure, step, maneuver, bout, passage, move, stroke, blow, coup, coup de main, coup d'etat, tour de force, feat, exploit, achievement, handiwork, workmanship, manufacture, stroke of policy, actor, doing, acting, in action, in harness, on duty, in operation, in the act, in the midst of, in the thick of, red-handed, in flagrante delicto, while one's hand is in, action is eloquence, actions speak louder than words, actum aiunt ne agas, awake, arise, or be forever fall'n, dii pia facta vident, faire sans dire, fare fac, fronte capillata post est occasio calva, our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts, the great end of life is not knowledge but action, thought is the soul of act, vivre-ce nest pas respirer c'est agir, we live in deeds not years.

VB do, perform, execute, achieve, transact, enact, commit, perpetrate, inflict, exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play, employ oneself, ply one's task, officiate, have in hand, labor, be at work, pursue a course, shape one's course, act, operate, take action, take steps, strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand, take in hand, put oneself in motion, put in practice, carry into execution, act upon, be an actor, take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in, participate in, have a hand in, have a finger in the pie, have to do with, be a party to, be a participator in, bear a hand, lend a hand, pull an oar, run in a race, mix oneself up with, be in action, come into operation.

Precept

N precept, direction, instruction, charge, prescript, prescription, recipe, receipt, golden rule, maxim, rule, canon, law, code, corpus juris, lex scripta, act, statute, rubric, stage direction, regulation, form, formula, formulary, technicality, canon law, norm, order.

Command

N command, order, ordinance, act, fiat, hukm, bidding, dictum, hest, behest, call, beck, nod, despatch, dispatch, message, direction, injunction, charge, instructions, appointment, fixture, demand, exaction, imposition, requisition, claim, reclamation, revendication, ultimatum, request, requirement, dictation, dictate, mandate, caveat, decree, senatus consultum, precept, prescript, rescript, writ, ordination, bull, ex cathedra pronouncement, edict, decretal, dispensation, prescription, brevet, placit, ukase, ukaz, firman, hatti- sherif, warrant, passport, mittimus, mandamus, summons, subpoena, nisi prius, interpellation, citation, word, word of command, mot d'ordre, bugle call, trumpet call, beat of drum, tattoo, order of the day, enactment, plebiscite, commanding, authoritative, decretory, decretive, decretal, callable, jussive, in a commanding tone, by a stroke of the pen, by a dash of the pen, by order, at beat of drum, on the first summons, the decree is gone forth, sic volo sic jubeo, le Roi le veut, boutez en avant.

Agency

VB be in action, operate, work, act, act upon, perform, play, support, sustain, strain, maintain, take effect, quicken, strike, come play, come bring into operation, have play, have free play, bring to bear upon.

Representation

VB copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, V, represent, delineate, depict, depicture, portray, take a likeness, catch a likeness, hit off, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, figure, shadow forth, shadow out, adumbrate, body forth, describe, trace, copy, mold, dress up, illustrate, symbolize, paint, carve, engrave, personate, personify, impersonate, assume a character, pose as, act, play, mimic, hold the mirror up to nature.