act
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
How often you will meet it
Rank 679 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 27,859 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.013% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) also: move think before you actWe must move quickly
- behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself also: behave, do You should act like an adultDon't behave like a fool
- play a role or part also: play, represent Gielgud played HamletShe wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
- discharge one's duties She acts as the chairIn what capacity are you acting?
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind also: play, act as He acted the idiotShe plays deaf when the news are bad
- be suitable for theatrical performance This scene acts well
act in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The Dungeons in the Citadel Act III.
The Complete Poetical Works of Henry · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Chapter 1
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Scene 1st--Pavillion and Garden of Marguerite By Hawthorne ACT III.
Representative Plays by American Dramatists — Love in '76 · Oliver Bell Bunce · Chapter 1
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Go, go, Complain unto my great lord cardinal; It may be he will justify the act.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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After this memorable act of conscientious self-devotion, years passed away in quiet, amid a species of negative prosperity.
The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish · James Fenimore Cooper · Chapter 1
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From this time she never lost a minute, concealing her work as if it were an evil act.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1