Act Definition
act
noun
- a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
- something that people do or cause to happen
- a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
- 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"
- a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for her benefit"
verb
- 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"
- 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"
- 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"
- discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?"
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
- be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts well"
- 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"
- be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
- behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting"
- perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
"Act" in song lyrics
See how act is used in real songs:
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"now we stressing bout how our parents going to act"
1200 Techniques f/ Rashad Houghton — Fork in the Road -
"Chickens in the club that don't know how to act"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Clocka, Lighter Shade, Othorized F.A.M. — New York -
"Until one day I got caught in the act"
2 Live Crew — Check it Out Y'all
Words that rhyme with act
Usage tips for "act"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "act" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for act to find words that pair well.