verb To do something; to take action.
- The council must act quickly before the situation worsens.
- If you see smoke, act immediately and call the fire brigade.
- We cannot wait any longer, so we have to act now.
verb To perform a role in a play, film, or show.
- She has acted in several award-winning films.
- He acted the part of a grumpy old sailor in the school play.
- Do you think you could act in a short film with us?
verb To behave in a particular way.
- He acted as if nothing had happened.
- Stop acting like a child and listen to what I am saying.
- The dog acts nervous whenever visitors come to the front door.
noun Something done; a deed.
- It was an act of kindness that no one will forget.
- Rescuing the kitten from the tree was a brave act.
- Leaving a note for the neighbors was a thoughtful act.
noun A law passed by a legislative body.
- Parliament passed the act after months of debate.
- The new act requires all food shops to display clear allergy information.
- Teachers studied the act to see how it would affect their schools.
noun One of the main divisions of a play.
- The murder takes place in the second act.
- The audience gasped when the curtain fell at the end of act one.
- In the final act, the two sisters finally forgive each other.
