Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
act (noun)1.
a) the doing of a thing - deed
b) something done voluntarily
2.
a state of real existence rather than possibility
3.
the formal product of a legislative body - statute , also a decision or determination of a sovereign, a legislative council, or a court of justice
4.
the process of doing - action caught in the act
5.
often capitalized a formal record of something done or transacted
6.
one of the principal divisions of a theatrical work (as a play or opera)
7.
a) one of successive parts or performances (as in a variety show or circus)
b) the performer or performers in such an act
c) a performance or presentation identified with a particular individual or group
d) the sum of a person's actions or effects that serve to create an impression or set an example - a hard act to follow
8.
a display of affected behavior - pretense
transitive verb
1.
obsolete - actuate animate
2.
a) to represent or perform by action especially on the stage
b) - feign simulate
c) - impersonate
3.
to play the part of as if in a play - act the man of the world
4.
intransitive verb
to behave in a manner suitable to - act your age
1.
a) to perform on the stage
b) to behave as if performing on the stage - pretend
2.
to take action - move think before acting acted favorably on the recommendation
3.
to conduct oneself - behave act like a fool
4.
to perform a specified function - serve trees acting as a windbreak
5.
to produce an effect - work wait for a medicine to act
6.
of a play to be capable of being performed - the play acts well
7.
to give a decision or award - adjourned without acting on the bill
1.
Action for Children's Television
2.
Association of Classroom Teachers
3.
Australian Capital Territory
- used for a standardized achievement test to evaluate suitability for college admission
1.
active
2.
actor
3.
actual
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
act (noun)1.
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group
SYNONIMS:
bit, number, routine, shtick ( schtick shtik), turnRELATED WORDS:
signature2.
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive
SYNONIMS:
act, airs, charade, disguise, facade ( façade), front, guise, playacting, pose, pretense ( pretence), put-on, semblance, showRELATED WORDS:
impersonation, performance, portrayal; image, persona; appearance, color, gloss; camouflage, cloak; affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile; betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness; excuse, pretextNEAR ANTONYMS:
bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; artlessness, genuineness, naïveté ( naivete naiveté)3.
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature
SYNONIMS:
act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statuteRELATED WORDS:
command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling; bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule; amendment, legislation; common law, martial law; blue law; prohibition, proscription, restriction; canon, capitulary, encyclicalNEAR ANTONYMS:
higher law4.
something done by someone
SYNONIMS:
act, deed, doing, exploit, feat, thingRELATED WORDS:
accomplishment, achievement, attainment; adventure, experience; emprise, enterprise, initiative, undertaking; handiwork, performance, work; stunt, trick; activity, dealing; maneuver, measure, move, operation, procedure, proceeding, step, tactic; coaction1.
to present a portrayal or performance of
SYNONIMS:
do, impersonate, interpret, perform, play, portrayRELATED WORDS:
depict, dramatize, render, represent; act out, enact, pantomime, playact, role-play, take on; overact, overplay, underplay; ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as); star (in); coact, costar2.
to produce a desired effect
SYNONIMS:
operate, perform, take, workRELATED WORDS:
behave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, resultNEAR ANTONYMS:
backfire; fizzle3.
to give the impression of being
SYNONIMS:
act, appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, soundRELATED WORDS:
dissemble, pretend; recall, resemble, suggest; hint, imply, insinuate4.
to have a certain purpose
SYNONIMS:
act, perform, serve, workRELATED WORDS:
operate, run; administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise5.
to present a false appearance of
SYNONIMS:
act, affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulateRELATED WORDS:
dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose; forge, imitate; camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask; feint; malinger6.
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
SYNONIMS:
act, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as)RELATED WORDS:
ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, monkey, parody, travesty; perform, portrayto behave toward in a stated way
SYNONIMS:
act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, useRELATED WORDS:
consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view; engage (with), react (to), respond (to)