1 act
Pronounced:
/ˈækt/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural actsMeaning:
1 [count] : something that is done ▪ His first official act [=action] as President was to sign the bill. ▪ We were grateful for her many acts of kindness. ▪ an act of bravery = a brave act ▪ criminal/illegal/unlawful/wrongful acts —see also sex act ◊An act of God is a natural event (such as a storm or earthquake) that cannot be controlled by people. ▪ The company cannot be held responsible in cases of bad weather or other acts of God.
2 [count] : a law made by a group of legislators ▪ The program was created by (an) act of Congress/Parliament. ▪ legislative acts ▪ the Civil Rights Act of 1964
3 [count] : one of the main divisions of a play or opera ▪ Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. ▪ In the first/opening act, two characters are talking in a restaurant. ▪ a play in three acts = a three-act play
4 [count] a : one of the performances in a show ▪ a circus/magic act b : a show that a person or group performs often ▪ He has a great stand-up/comedy act. [=routine] ▪ She took her act on the road. [=she traveled and performed her act in different places] c : a person or group that performs in shows ▪ a two-person comedy act from New York City ▪ The band was one of this summer's most successful live acts. ◊A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time. ▪ It's a difficult balancing act, but many students hold full-time jobs while attending school. ▪ Working and raising children can be a real juggling act for parents. —see also class act a hard/tough act to follow at follow
5 [singular] : a way of behaving that is not honest or sincere ▪ He said he was sorry, but I realize now that it was all just an act. ▪ He wasn't really sorry. He was just putting on an act.
2 [count] : a law made by a group of legislators ▪ The program was created by (an) act of Congress/Parliament. ▪ legislative acts ▪ the Civil Rights Act of 1964
3 [count] : one of the main divisions of a play or opera ▪ Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. ▪ In the first/opening act, two characters are talking in a restaurant. ▪ a play in three acts = a three-act play
4 [count] a : one of the performances in a show ▪ a circus/magic act b : a show that a person or group performs often ▪ He has a great stand-up/comedy act. [=routine] ▪ She took her act on the road. [=she traveled and performed her act in different places] c : a person or group that performs in shows ▪ a two-person comedy act from New York City ▪ The band was one of this summer's most successful live acts. ◊A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time. ▪ It's a difficult balancing act, but many students hold full-time jobs while attending school. ▪ Working and raising children can be a real juggling act for parents. —see also class act a hard/tough act to follow at follow
5 [singular] : a way of behaving that is not honest or sincere ▪ He said he was sorry, but I realize now that it was all just an act. ▪ He wasn't really sorry. He was just putting on an act.
clean up your act —see clean up at 2clean
get into the act or get in on the act
: to start to participate in an activity ▪ We started selling them last year, and now other stores are getting into the act. [=now other stores are also selling them]
get your act together —see get together at get
in the act (of doing something)
: while doing something ▪ When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner. ▪ He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank.