act

act · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A thing done; a deed.

  2. 2.

    A law passed by a legislative body.

  3. 3.

    A main division of a play, opera, or ballet.

  4. 4.

    A performance or pretense.

  5. 5.

    A short performance by a performer or group.

  6. 6.

    To take action; do something.

  7. 7.

    To perform in a play, film, or television production.

  8. 8.

    To behave in a specified way.

Forms

plural: acts

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    act of God — An uncontrollable natural event.
  • •
    caught in the act — Discovered while doing something wrong.
  • •
    get your act together — Organize yourself; become more effective.
  • •
    act up — Misbehave; malfunction.
  • •
    in the act of — While doing something.
  • •
    clean up one's act — Improve one's behavior.

Related words

Antonyms: inaction
See also: action, activity, actor, perform
Synonyms: action, deed, performance, statute

Etymology

From Latin actus ("a doing, a driving, impulse, a part in a play"), from agere ("to do, drive, lead").