act

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to do something or take action

   The doctors had to act quickly to save his life.

2. 2
   verb

   to behave in a particular way

   Stop acting like a child.

3. 3
   verb

   to play a part in a film, play, or television show

   She has acted in several Hollywood films.

4. 4
   noun

   a single thing that someone does

   Helping the old man cross the road was a kind act.

5. 5
   noun

   one of the main parts a play is divided into; a short performance

   The play's second act was far more exciting than the first.

Common collocations

• brave act Adjective + noun
• criminal act Adjective + noun
• deliberate act Adjective + noun
• random act Adjective + noun

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin ācta Old French actbor. Middle English acte English act From Middle English acte, from Old French acte, from Latin ācta (“register of events”), plural of āctum (“decree, law”), from agere (“to do, to act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti. Compare German Akte (“file”). Partially displaced deed, from Old English dǣd (“act, deed”).

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