English > act: 15 senses > noun 2, TopsMeaning | Something that people do or cause to happen. |
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Synonyms | deed, human action, human activity |
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Narrower | acquiring, getting | The act of acquiring something |
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action | Something done (usually as opposed to something said) |
activity | Any specific behavior |
assumption | The act of assuming or taking for granted |
causing, causation | The act of causing something to happen / happen |
communication, communicating | The activity of communicating |
delivery, obstetrical delivery | The act of delivering a child |
departure, going, going away, leaving | The act of departing |
derivation | The act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin |
discovery, find, uncovering | The act of discovering something |
disposal, disposition | The act or means of getting rid of something |
distribution | The act of distributing or spreading or apportioning |
egress, egression, emergence | The act of coming (or going) out |
equalization, equalisation, leveling | The act of making equal or uniform / uniform |
exhumation, disinterment, digging up | The act of digging something out of the ground (especially a corpse) where it has been buried |
forfeit, forfeiture, sacrifice | The act of losing or surrendering / surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc. |
group action | action taken by a group of people |
hindrance, hinderance, interference | The act of hindering or obstructing or impeding |
hire | The act of hiring something or someone |
implementation, effectuation | The act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something) |
inactivity | Inactive |
judgment, judgement, assessment | The act of judging / judging / judging or assessing a person or situation or event |
leaning | The act of deviating from a vertical position |
legitimation | The act of rendering a person legitimate |
mitzvah, mitsvah | (Judaism) a good deed performed out of religious duty |
motivation, motivating | The act of motivating |
nonaccomplishment, nonachievement | An act that does not achieve its intended goal |
proclamation, promulgation | The formal act of proclaiming |
production | The act or process of producing something |
propulsion, actuation | The act of propelling |
recovery, retrieval | The act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost) |
rejection | The act of rejecting something |
residency, residence, abidance | The act of dwelling in a place |
running away | The act of leaving (without permission) the place you are expected to be |
speech act | The use of language to perform some act |
stay | Continuing or remaining in a place or state |
stop, stoppage | The act of stopping something |
touch, touching | The act of putting two things together with no space between them |
waste, permissive waste | (law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect |
wear, wearing | The act of having on your person as a covering or adornment |
Broader | event | Something that happens at a given place and time |
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Spanish | acción humana, acción, actividad humana, acto |
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Catalan | acció humana, acció, acte, activitat humana |
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Verbs | act | perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) |
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actuate | put in motion or move to act |
actuate | give an incentive for action / action |
English > act: 15 senses > verb 1, socialMeaning | Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action). |
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Pattern | Something ----s; Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s PP |
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Examples | - "think before you act"
- "The governor should act on the new energy bill"
- "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
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Synonym | move |
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Caused by | coerce, hale, squeeze, pressure, force | To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means |
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compel, oblige, obligate | Force somebody to do something |
direct | Be in charge of |
incite, instigate, set off, stir up | Provoke or stir ... / stir up |
Narrower | act on | regulate one's behavior in accordance with certain information, ideas, or advice |
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alternate, take turns | Do something in turns |
antagonize, antagonise, counteract | act in opposition to |
anticipate, foresee, forestall, counter | Act in advance of |
attack, aggress | Take the initiative and go on the offensive |
begin, start | Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object |
behave, comport | Behave well or properly |
behave, acquit, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry | Behave in a certain manner |
coact | act together, as of organisms |
come close | nearly do something |
come to the fore, step forward, come forward, step up, step to the fore, come out | make oneself visible |
condescend, deign, descend | Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity |
condescend | Behave in a patronizing and condescending manner |
condescend, stoop, lower oneself | debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way |
continue, go on, proceed, go along, keep | Continue a certain state, condition, or activity |
continue | Continue after an interruption / interruption |
continue, persist in | Do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop |
cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage | Come to terms with |
court | Engage in social activities leading to marriage |
create | pursue a creative activity |
dally, toy, play, flirt | Behave carelessly or indifferently |
dare | To be courageous enough to try or do something |
deal | Take action with respect to (someone or something) |
dispatch | dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently |
do well, had best | Act in one's own or everybody's best interest |
effect | act so as to bring into existence |
egotrip | Act in a way that attracts attention |
evade | Practice evasion |
exert | make a great effort at a mental or physical task |
finish up, land up, fetch up, end up, wind up, finish | finally be or do something |
force | Do forcibly |
get around to | Do something despite obstacles such as lack of time |
go, proceed, move | Follow a procedure or take a course |
go ahead, plow ahead | proceed (with a plan of action) |
go off half-cocked, go off at half-cock | Act prematurely or without reflection or too soon |
guard | Take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence |
interact | Act together or towards others or with others |
interrupt, disturb | Destroy the peace or tranquility of |
lord it over, queen it over, put on airs, act superior | Act like the master of |
make a point, make sure | make a point of doing something |
make bold, dare, presume | Take upon oneself |
maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre | Act in order to achieve a certain goal / goal |
misbehave, misconduct, misdemean | Behave badly |
participate, take part | Share in something |
partner | act as a partner |
perform | Perform a function |
perpetrate, commit, pull | Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation |
play | Behave in a certain way |
play | Act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome |
play it by ear | decide on one's actions as one goes along, depending on the situation |
prosecute | Conduct a prosecution in a court of law |
prosecute, engage, pursue | carry out or participate in an activity |
race | To work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others |
rampage | Act violently, recklessly, or destructively |
react, respond | show a response or a reaction to something |
react, oppose | act against or in opposition to |
reciprocate | Act, feel, or give mutually or in return |
repeat, take over | Do over |
reward, repay, pay back | Act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions |
rush, hasten, hurry, look sharp, festinate | Act or move at high speed |
satisfice, satisfise | decide on and pursue a course of action satisfying the minimum requirements to achieve a goal |
set about, go about, approach | Begin to deal with |
sneak | put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner |
stampede | Act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse |
surprise | come upon or take unawares |
take | carry out |
take care | Be careful, prudent, or watchful |
take time by the forelock | Act quickly and decisively |
try, seek, attempt, essay, assay | make an effort or attempt |
use | Habitually do something (use only in the past tense) |
volunteer, offer | agree / agree freely |
wait, hold off, hold back | wait before acting |
woo, court, romance, solicit | make amorous advances towards |
See also | act on | carry further or advance |
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act up | misbehave badly |
act upon | have and exert influence or effect |
Opposite | refrain, forbear | Resist doing something |
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Spanish | actuar, hacer, llevar a cabo, obrar |
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Catalan | actuar, fer |
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Nouns | act | something that people do or cause to happen |
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action | something done (usually as opposed to something said) |
action | the state of being active |
English > act: 15 senses > verb 2, bodyMeaning | Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s Adjective |
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Examples | - "You should act like an adult"
- "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"
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Synonyms | behave, do |
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Narrower | act, play, act as | pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind |
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act involuntarily, act reflexively | Act in an uncontrolled manner |
backslap | Display excessive cordiality (towards) |
break down, lose it, snap | Lose control of one's emotions |
bungle | spoil by behaving clumsily or foolishly |
dally, dawdle | Waste time |
fall over backwards, bend over backwards | try very hard to please someone |
follow | Accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of |
footle | act foolishly, as by talking / talking nonsense |
freeze | Suddenly behave coldly and formally |
frivol, trifle | Act frivolously |
hugger mugger | Act stealthily or secretively |
joke, jest | Act in a funny or teasing way |
make | Behave in a certain way |
make | act in a certain way so as to acquire |
make as if | Begin or appear to begin an action |
menace | Act in a threatening manner |
optimize, optimise | act as an optimist and take a sunny view of the world |
piffle | Act in a trivial or ineffective way |
play, toy | Engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously |
presume | Take liberties or act with too much confidence |
quack | act as a medical quack or a charlatan |
ramp, rage, storm | Behave violently, as if in state of a great anger |
relax, loosen up | Become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner |
romanticize | Act in a romantic / romantic way |
sauce | Behave saucily or impudently towards |
sentimentalise, sentimentalize, sentimentize, sentimentise | Act in a sentimental way or indulge in sentimental thoughts or expression |
stooge | act as a stooge, in a compliant or subordinate manner |
swagger, bluster, swash | Act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner |
swell, puff up | Become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger |
vulgarize, vulgarise | Act in a vulgar manner |
wanton | Behave extremely cruelly and brutally |
See also | act up | make itself felt as a recurring pain |
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Similar to | act, play, act as | pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind |
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dissemble, pretend, act | Behave unnaturally or affectedly |
Spanish | actuar, comportarse, comportar, comprtarse, hacer, obrar, portarse, portar |
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Catalan | actuar, comportar-se, comportar, fer, obrar, portar |
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English > act: 15 senses > verb 3, creationMeaning | Play a role or part. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody |
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Example | "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role" |
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Synonyms | play, represent |
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Category | performing arts | arts or skills that require public performance |
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Entailed by | enter | Come on stage |
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Narrower | act out | represent an incident, state, or emotion by action, especially on stage |
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emote | Give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role |
enact, reenact, act out | act out |
impersonate, portray | assume or act the character of |
make, pretend, make believe | represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like |
parody | make a spoof of or make fun of |
support | Play a subordinate role to (another performer) |
Broader | re-create | create anew |
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Similar to | act, play, act as | pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind |
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act, play, roleplay, playact | Perform on a stage or theater |
play | pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game / game or playful activity |
Spanish | interpretar, jugar, representar, tocar |
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Catalan | jugar, representar, tocar |
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Adjectives | actable | capable of being acted |
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Nouns | act | a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program |
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acting | the performance of a part or role in a drama |
actor | a theatrical performer |