act
1. a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body (Freq. 35)
• Syn:
enactment
• Topics:
law, jurisprudence
• Hypernyms:
legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument
• Hyponyms:
nullity, decree, edict, fiat, order,
rescript, legislative act, statute
2. something that people do or cause to happen (Freq. 24)
• Syn:
deed, human action, human activity
• Derivationally related forms:
actuate
• Hypernyms:
event
• Hyponyms:
action, acquiring, getting, causing, causation,
delivery, obstetrical delivery, departure, going, going away, leaving,
discovery, find, uncovering, disposal, disposition, implementation,
effectuation, egress, egression, emergence, equalization, equalisation,
leveling, exhumation, disinterment, digging up, mitzvah, mitsvah,
propulsion, actuation, recovery, retrieval, running away, touch,
touching, nonaccomplishment, nonachievement, leaning, motivation, motivating,
assumption, rejection, forfeit, forfeiture, sacrifice, derivation,
activity, hire, wear, wearing, judgment, judgement,
assessment, production, stay, residency, residence, abidance,
inactivity, hindrance, hinderance, interference, stop, stoppage,
group action, distribution, legitimation, waste, permissive waste, proclamation,
promulgation, communication, communicating, speech act
3. a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet (Freq. 9)
• Hypernyms:
dramatic composition, dramatic work
• Part Holonyms:
play, drama, dramatic play, opera, ballet, concert dance
• Part Meronyms:
scene
4. a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program (Freq. 3)
- he did his act three times every evening
- she had a catchy little routine
- it was one of the best numbers he ever did
• Syn:
routine, number, turn, bit
• Hypernyms:
performance, public presentation
• Hyponyms:
show-stopper, showstopper, stopper
5. a manifestation of insincerity
- he put on quite an act for her benefit
• Hypernyms:
expression, manifestation, reflection, reflexion
1. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) (Freq. 35)
- 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
• Syn:
move
• Ant:
refrain
• See Also:
act on, act up, act upon
• Derivationally related forms:
move (for: move), action
• Hyponyms:
alternate, take turns, finish up, land up, fetch up,
end up, wind up, finish, rush, hasten, hurry,
look sharp, festinate, interrupt, disturb, react, respond,
go ahead, plow ahead, attack, aggress, force, create,
come to the fore, step forward, come forward, step up, step to the fore, come out,
reward, repay, pay back, satisfice, satisfise, maneuver,
manoeuver, manoeuvre, dispatch, evade, race, use,
play it by ear, play, deal, partner, exert, egotrip,
reciprocate, go, proceed, move, come close, perform,
make bold, dare, presume, prosecute, engage, pursue,
act on, interact, oppose, take time by the forelock, coact, volunteer,
offer, get around to, dally, toy, flirt, set about,
go about, approach, participate, take part, misbehave, misconduct,
misdemean, condescend, stoop, lower oneself, behave, acquit,
bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry, try,
seek, attempt, essay, assay, woo, court,
romance, solicit, effect, antagonize, antagonise, counteract,
anticipate, foresee, forestall, counter, perpetrate, commit,
pull, rampage, cope, get by, make out, make do,
contend, grapple, manage, deign, descend, take care,
lord it over, queen it over, put on airs, act superior, stampede, make a point,
make sure, repeat, take over, surprise, sneak, take,
guard, begin, start, go off half-cocked, go off at half-cock, wait,
hold off, hold back, continue, go on, go along, keep,
do well, had best, persist in
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s PP
2. behave in a certain manner;
show a certain behavior;
conduct or comport oneself (Freq. 22)
- 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
• Syn:
behave, do
• See Also:
act up
• Hyponyms:
act involuntarily, act reflexively, fall over backwards, bend over backwards, presume,
vulgarize, vulgarise, optimize, optimise, quack, menace,
make, swagger, bluster, swash, freeze, wanton,
romanticize, sentimentalise, sentimentalize, sentimentize, sentimentise, bungle,
play, toy, act as, stooge, joke, jest,
piffle, make as if, break down, lose it, snap, dally,
dawdle, backslap, hugger mugger, sauce, footle, frivol,
trifle, swell, puff up, follow, relax, loosen up,
ramp, rage, storm
• Verb Group:
play, act as, dissemble, pretend
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s Adjective
3. play a role or part (Freq. 7)
- 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
• Syn:
play, represent
• Derivationally related forms:
representation (for: represent), play (for: play), player (for: play), playing (for: play), actable, actor, acting
• Topics:
performing arts
• Hypernyms:
re-create
• Hyponyms:
make, pretend, make believe, support, enact,
reenact, act out, impersonate, portray, parody, emote
• Verb Group:
play, act as, roleplay, playact
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
4. discharge one's duties (Freq. 4)
- She acts as the chair
- In what capacity are you acting?
• Derivationally related forms:
actor
• Hypernyms:
serve
• Hyponyms:
criticize, criticise, bank
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s PP
5. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind (Freq. 1)
- He acted the idiot
- She plays deaf when the news are bad
• Syn:
play, act as
• Hypernyms:
behave, do
• Verb Group:
behave, do, play, represent
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
6. be suitable for theatrical performance
- This scene acts well
• Derivationally related forms:
actable, acting
• Hypernyms:
be
• Verb Group:
play, roleplay, playact
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s Adjective/Noun
7. 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
• Syn:
work
• Derivationally related forms:
workable (for: work), work (for: work)
• Hypernyms:
succeed, win, come through, bring home the bacon, deliver the goods
• Verb Group:
bring, work, play, wreak, make for
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- Something is ----ing PP
8. be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
• Derivationally related forms:
action
• Hyponyms:
play, drive around, walk around
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
9. behave unnaturally or affectedly
- She's just acting
• Syn:
dissemble, pretend
• Derivationally related forms:
pretender (for: pretend)
• Hyponyms:
simulate, assume, sham, feign
• Verb Group:
behave, do
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s something
10. perform on a stage or theater
- She acts in this play
- He acted in 'Julius Caesar'
- I played in 'A Christmas Carol'
• Syn:
play, roleplay, playact
• Derivationally related forms:
playactor (for: playact), playacting (for: playact), roleplaying (for: roleplay), play (for: play), player (for: play), playing (for: play), actable, actor, acting
• Topics:
dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theater, theatre
• Hypernyms:
perform
• Hyponyms:
stooge, mime, pantomime, overact, ham it up,
ham, overplay, underact, underplay
• Verb Group:
play, represent
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
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