Meaning of 'act' (Webster Dictionary)
- That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the
effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.
- The result of public deliberation; the decision or
determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a
decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament,
or of Congress.
- A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been
done.
- A performance of part of a play; one of the principal
divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part
of the action is completed.
- A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities,
by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.
- A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a
possibility or possible existence.
- Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the
point of (doing).
- To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts
upon food.
- To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth
energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect
a determination of the will.
- To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or
public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he
has acted so.
- To perform on the stage; to represent a character.
- To move to action; to actuate; to animate.
- To perform; to execute; to do.
- To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the
stage.
- To assume the office or character of; to play; to
personate; as, to act the hero.
- To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.
Meaning of 'act' (Princeton's WordNet)
Meaning (1):
- a short performance that is part of a longer program
Example in sentence:- he did his act three times every evening;
- it was one of the best numbers he ever did;
- she had a catchy little routine
Meaning (2):
- a manifestation of insincerity
Example in sentence:- he put on quite an act for her benefit
Meaning (3):
- behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
Example in sentence:- Don't behave like a fool;
- The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people;
- What makes her do this way?;
- You should act like an adult
Meaning (4):
- play a role or part
Example in sentence:- Gielgud played Hamlet;
- She played the servant to her husband's master;
- She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
Meaning (5):
- perform on a stage or theater
Example in sentence:- He acted in `Julius Caesar';
- I played in `A Christmas Carol';
- She acts in this play
Meaning (6):
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
Example in sentence:- He acted the idiot;
- She plays deaf when the news are bad
Meaning (7):
- have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
Example in sentence:- How does your idea work in practice?;
- The breaks of my new car act quickly;
- The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water;
- The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought;
- This method doesn't work
Meaning (8):
- discharge one's duties
Example in sentence:- In what capacity are you acting?;
- She acts as the chair
Meaning (9):
- behave unnaturally or affectedly
Meaning (10):
- perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
Example in sentence:- The governor should act on the new energy bill;
- The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel;
- think before you act;
- We must move quickly
Meaning (11):
- be suitable for theatrical performance
Definition
[ n.]