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English noun: act

1. act (communication) a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body


Synonymsenactment


Broader (hypernym)instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document


Narrower (hyponym)decree, edict, fiat, legislative act, nullity, order, rescript, statute


Domain categoryjurisprudence, law

2. act something that people do or cause to happen


Synonymsdeed, human action, human activity


Broader (hypernym)event


Narrower (hyponym)abidance, acquiring, action, activity, actuation, assessment, assumption, causation, causing, communicating, communication, delivery, departure, derivation, digging up, discovery, disinterment, disposal, disposition, distribution, effectuation, egress, egression, emergence, equalisation, equalization, exhumation, find, forfeit, forfeiture, getting, going, going away, group action, hinderance, hindrance, hire, implementation, inactivity, interference, judgement, judgment, leaning, leaving, legitimation, leveling, mitsvah, mitzvah, motivating, motivation, nonaccomplishment, nonachievement, obstetrical delivery, permissive waste, proclamation, production, promulgation, propulsion, recovery, rejection, residence, residency, retrieval, running away, sacrifice, speech act, stay, stop, stoppage, touch, touching, uncovering, waste, wear, wearing

3. act (communication) a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet


Broader (hypernym)dramatic composition, dramatic work


Part holonymscene


Part meronymballet, concert dance, drama, dramatic play, opera, play

4. act (communication) a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program


SamplesHe did his act three times every evening.
She had a catchy little routine.
It was one of the best numbers he ever did.


Synonymsbit, number, routine, turn


Broader (hypernym)performance, public presentation


Narrower (hyponym)show-stopper, showstopper, stopper

5. act (communication) a manifestation of insincerity


SamplesHe put on quite an act for her benefit.


Broader (hypernym)expression, manifestation, reflection, reflexion


English verb: act

1. act (social) perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)


SamplesThink 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.


Synonymsmove


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Somebody ----s PP


Narrower (hyponym)acquit, act on, act superior, aggress, alternate, antagonise, antagonize, anticipate, approach, assay, attack, attempt, bear, begin, behave, behave, carry, coact, come close, come forward, come out, come to the fore, commit, comport, comport, condescend, condescend, condescend, conduct, contend, continue, continue, continue, cope, counter, counteract, court, court, create, dally, dare, dare, deal, deal, deign, deport, descend, dispatch, disturb, do well, effect, egotrip, end up, engage, essay, evade, exert, festinate, fetch up, finish, finish up, flirt, force, foresee, forestall, get around to, get by, go, go about, go ahead, go along, go off at half-cock, go off half-cocked, go on, grapple, guard, had best, hasten, hold back, hold off, hurry, interact, interrupt, keep, land up, look sharp, lord it over, lower oneself, make a point, make bold, make do, make out, make sure, manage, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, misbehave, misconduct, misdemean, move, offer, oppose, participate, partner, pay back, perform, perpetrate, persist in, play, play, play, play it by ear, plow ahead, presume, proceed, proceed, prosecute, prosecute, pull, pursue, put on airs, queen it over, race, rampage, react, react, reciprocate, repay, repeat, respond, reward, romance, rush, satisfice, satisfise, seek, set about, sneak, solicit, stampede, start, step forward, step to the fore, step up, stoop, surprise, take, take care, take over, take part, take time by the forelock, take turns, toy, try, use, volunteer, wait, wind up, woo


Antonymsrefrain, forbear

2. act (body) behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself


SamplesYou 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.


Synonymsbehave, do


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s Adjective


Narrower (hyponym)act, act as, act involuntarily, act reflexively, backslap, bend over backwards, bluster, break down, bungle, dally, dawdle, fall over backwards, follow, footle, freeze, frivol, hugger mugger, jest, joke, loosen up, lose it, make, make, make as if, menace, optimise, optimize, piffle, play, play, presume, puff up, quack, rage, ramp, relax, romanticize, sauce, sentimentalise, sentimentalize, sentimentise, sentimentize, snap, stooge, storm, swagger, swash, swell, toy, trifle, vulgarise, vulgarize, wanton


Verb groupact, act, act as, dissemble, play, pretend

3. act (creation) play a role or part


SamplesGielgud 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.


Synonymsplay, represent


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)re-create


Narrower (hyponym)act out, act out, emote, enact, impersonate, make, make believe, parody, portray, pretend, reenact, support


Verb groupact, act, act as, play, play, play, playact, roleplay


Domain categoryperforming arts

4. act (competition) discharge one's duties


SamplesShe acts as the chair.
In what capacity are you acting?.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)serve


Narrower (hyponym)bank, criticise, criticize

5. act (body) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind


SamplesHe acted the idiot.
She plays deaf when the news are bad.


Synonymsact as, play


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)act, behave, do


Verb groupact, act, behave, do, play, represent

6. act (stative) be suitable for theatrical performance


SamplesThis scene acts well.


Pattern of useSomething ----s Adjective/Noun


Broader (hypernym)be


Verb groupact, play, playact, roleplay

7. act (social) have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected


SamplesThe 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.


Synonymswork


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Something is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)bring home the bacon, come through, deliver the goods, succeed, win


Verb groupbring, make for, play, work, wreak

8. act (social) be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Narrower (hyponym)drive around, play, walk around

9. act (creation) behave unnaturally or affectedly


SamplesShe's just acting.


Synonymsdissemble, pretend


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Narrower (hyponym)assume, feign, sham, simulate


Verb groupact, behave, do

10. act (creation) perform on a stage or theater


SamplesShe acts in this play.
He acted in `Julius Caesar'.
I played in `A Christmas Carol'.


Synonymsplay, playact, roleplay


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)perform


Narrower (hyponym)ham, ham it up, mime, overact, overplay, pantomime, stooge, underact, underplay


Verb groupact, act, play, play, play, represent


Domain categorydramatic art, dramatics, dramaturgy, theater, theatre









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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