act
akt
Act (verb) means to do something; to take action. Example: “The council must act quickly before the situation worsens.”
verb
1
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."
2
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?"
3
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
1
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 neighbours was a thoughtful act."
2
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."
3
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."
How to use act
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do something, or (as a noun) the thing that was done — used for everyday actions, performances, and formal laws alike.
Common pairings
act quickly
an act of
pass an act
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- acts
- Past tense
- acted
- Archaic forms
- actest, actedst, acteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The council must _____ quickly before the situation worsens.
Etymology
From Old French acte, from Latin acta ("things done, register of events"), from agere ("to do, to drive").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for act
See all rhymes for act →Frequently asked questions
What does “act” mean?
The word “act” means to do something; to take action. In plain terms, to do something, or (as a noun) the thing that was done — used for everyday actions, performances, and formal laws alike.
How do you pronounce “act”?
“Act” is pronounced akt (/ækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “act” in a sentence?
Here is “act” used in a sentence: “The council must act quickly before the situation worsens.”
What part of speech is “act”?
Depending on how it is used, “act” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “act” come from?
The word “act” comes from Latin. From Old French acte, from Latin acta ("things done, register of events"), from agere ("to do, to drive").
Is “act” a common word?
“Act” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “act” have?
“Act” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to do something; to take action.
What is the difference between act and react?
To act is to do something on your own initiative — you start the action, as in 'we must act now.' To react is to respond to something that has already happened — 'she reacted to the news.' Acting leads and drives events; reacting follows and answers them. One begins; the other replies.
What is the difference between act and do?
Do is the general word for carrying out any task — 'do the dishes.' Act stresses taking deliberate, often decisive action, especially in response to a situation — 'the government must act.' Act can also mean to behave — 'he acted strangely' — a sense do does not carry on its own.
What does it mean to 'act on' something?
To act on something is to take action based on it. You act on advice, information, a warning or an instinct — 'the police acted on a tip-off,' 'she acted on his advice.' It means you did not just receive the information but used it as the reason for doing something.
What is an example of 'act' as a verb?
Act means to do something or take action: 'we need to act quickly,' 'he acted bravely under pressure,' or 'the medicine acts within minutes.' It can also mean to behave in a certain way — 'stop acting like a child' — or to have an effect, as when a force acts on an object.
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