noun
adj
verb
adv

Textual thesaurus for "act"

(noun) human action, human activity, deed

something that people do or cause to happen


(noun) enactment

a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body


(noun) turn, bit, number, routine

a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program

he did his act three times every evening; she had a catchy little routine; it was one of the best numbers he ever did


(verb) behave, do

behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

You should act like an adult; Don't behave like a fool; What makes her do this way?; The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people


(verb) play, act as

pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

He acted the idiot; She plays deaf when the news are bad


(verb) represent, play

play a role or part

Gielgud played Hamlet; She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role; She played the servant to her husband's master


(verb) play, playact, roleplay

perform on a stage or theater

She acts in this play; He acted in `Julius Caesar'; I played in `A Christmas Carol'


(verb) dissemble, pretend

behave unnaturally or affectedly

She's just acting


(verb) move

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

think before you act; We must move quickly; The governor should act on the new energy bill; The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel


(verb) work

have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought; How does your idea work in practice?; This method doesn't work; The breaks of my new car act quickly; The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water