Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
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acted

verb US /ˈæktɪd/

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

An inflected form of act · past form.

How often you will meet it

Rank 2,397 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 7,160 times across 175,173 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.

What it means

verb

  1. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) also: move think before you actWe must move quickly
  2. 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
  3. play a role or part also: play, represent Gielgud played HamletShe wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
  4. discharge one's duties She acts as the chairIn what capacity are you acting?
  5. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind also: play, act as He acted the idiotShe plays deaf when the news are bad
  6. be suitable for theatrical performance This scene acts well

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

acted 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.

  • You have acted certain murders here in Rome, Bloody and full of horror.

    The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1

  • Dan acted in gross disobedience, and thoroughly deserved the punishment Jonas was about to give him.

    With Lee in Virginia · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1

  • He blew his silver whistle, and the swallow who acted as messenger in the golden castle flew past.

    The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1

  • In fact, the very animals about the house were conscious of the character of the people, and acted accordingly.

    The Emigrants Of Ahadarra The Works · William Carleton · Chapter 1

  • This boy, of no phenomenal sort, had one marked quality--when he had made a decision he acted on it.

    The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1

Nearby in the frequency table

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