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Definition of act noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

act

noun
 OPAL W
 
/ækt/
 
/ækt/
Idioms
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    something that somebody does

  1.  
     [countable] a particular thing that somebody does
    • You have committed a serious criminal act.
    • act of something an act of kindness
    • This was one of the most appalling acts of terror of recent times.
    • acts of terrorism/violence/aggression
    • They performed acts of great heroism.
    • The murder was the act of a psychopath.
    Synonyms actionactionmeasure ▪ step ▪ act ▪ moveThese are all words for a thing that somebody does.action a thing that somebody does:
    • Can you explain your actions?
    measure an official action that is done in order to achieve a particular aim:
    • Tougher measures against racism are needed.
    step one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something:
    • This was a first step towards a united Europe.
    act a thing that somebody does:
    • an act of kindness
     action or act?These two words have the same meaning but are used in different patterns. An act is usually followed by of and/​or used with an adjective. Action is not usually used with of but is often used with his, her, etc: a heroic act of bravery • a heroic action of bravery • his heroic actions/​acts during the war. Action often combines with take but act does not: We shall take whatever acts are necessary. move (used especially in the media) an action that you do or need to do to achieve something:
    • They are waiting for the results of the opinion polls before deciding their next move.
    Patterns
    • to take action/​measures/​steps
    • to make a step/​move
    • a heroic/​brave/​daring action/​step/​act/​move
    see also balancing act, speech act
    Extra Examples
    • For Jane, the act of writing was always difficult.
    • He was arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist acts.
    • The company says that the explosion was no accident but a deliberate act of sabotage.
    • The very act of writing out your plan clarifies what you need to do.
    • a heroic act of bravery
    • a private act of revenge
    • charged with committing an act of gross indecency
    • horrific acts of violence
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • charitable
    • kind
    • heroic
    • …
    verb + act
    • carry out
    • commit
    • perform
    • …
    preposition
    • in the act of
    • act of
    phrases
    • an act of faith
    • an act of love
    • an act of violence
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    law

  2.  
    Act
    [countable] a law that has been passed by a parliament
    • an Act of Congress/Parliament
    • the Care Act 2014
    • to pass/repeal/amend an Act
    • under an Act A Committee on Safety of Medicines was set up under the Act.
    Wordfinder
    see also enabling act
    Extra Examples
    • the Higher Education Act 1965
    • The old Act has now been repealed.
    • The new Children's Act will become law next year.
    • The company had violated the Data Security Act of 2006.
    • The company had breached the 1994 Companies Act.
    • The Act was passed by a majority of 175 votes to 143.
    • The Act contains regulations for banks and building societies.
    • The 1995 Act applies only to food and not to dietary supplements.
    • He was charged under the Firearms Act of 1977.
    Topics Law and justiceb1, Politicsb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + act
    • bring in
    • introduce
    • pass
    • …
    act + verb
    • become law
    • come into force
    • contain something
    • …
    preposition
    • under an/​the act
    See full entry
    3.

    pretending

  3. [singular] a way of behaving that is not sincere but is intended to have a particular effect on others
    • Don't take her seriously—it's all an act.
    • You could tell he was just putting on an act.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + act
    • put on
    See full entry
    4.

    in play/entertainment

  4. [countable] one of the main divisions of a play, an opera, etc.
    • a play in five acts
    • The hero dies in Act 5, Scene 3.
    • The king is killed in the opening act.
    Wordfinder
    Topics Film and theatrec1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • opening
    • final
    • last
    • …
    preposition
    • in (the) act
    See full entry
  5. [countable] a performance, especially one of several short pieces of entertainment in a show
    • a circus/comedy/magic act
    • her one-woman poetry act
    Extra Examples
    • He does a little novelty act.
    • He does a little song-and-dance act.
    • The club offers live music and cabaret acts.
    • The children in the audience had come to see the magic act.
    • The show includes clowns and other circus acts.
    • I have to work on my act.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • opening
    • final
    • last
    • …
    preposition
    • in (the) act
    See full entry
  6. [countable] a performer or group of musicians
    • They were one of rock's most impressive live acts.
    see also double act
    Extra Examples
    • The group is merely a novelty act.
    • comedy double act French and Saunders
    • The main act will come on at about ten o'clock.
    Topics Musicb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • opening
    • final
    • last
    • …
    preposition
    • in (the) act
    See full entry
    7. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin actus ‘event, thing done’, act- ‘done’, from the verb agere, reinforced by the French noun acte.
Idioms
act of God
  1. (law) an event caused by natural forces beyond human control, such as a storm, a flood or an earthquakeTopics The environmentc2
be/get in on the act
  1. (informal) to be/become involved in an activity that somebody else has started, especially to get something for yourself
    • Other manufacturers are getting in on the act, creating their own versions of the popular toy.
clean up your act
  1. (informal) to start behaving in a moral or responsible way
    • He's cleaned up his act since his university days.
do, perform, stage a disappearing/vanishing act
  1. (informal) to go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you
    • The cat had done a disappearing act.
get your act together
  1. (informal) to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve something
    • She needs to get her act together if she's going to pass.
    Topics Successc2
a hard/tough act to follow
  1. a person or event that is so good or successful at something that it will be difficult for anyone/anything else coming after them to be as good or successful
    • She has been an excellent principal and will be a hard act to follow.
    • Their contribution will prove a tough act to follow.
    Topics Successc2
in the act (of doing something)
  1. while you are doing something
    • He was caught in the act of stealing a car.
    • It is often difficult to tell when someone is using drugs unless they are caught in the act.
read (somebody) the Riot Act
  1. (British English) to tell somebody with force that they must not do something
See act in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee act in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: act

Nearby words

pepper
noun
 
 
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