ACT: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ACT?

Need another word that means the same as “act”? Find 137 synonyms and 30 related words for “act” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Act” are: act as, play, dissemble, pretend, move, playact, roleplay, work, behave, do, represent, take action, take steps, take measures, take the initiative, make a move, react, do something, proceed, go ahead, function, perform, affect, have an effect on, influence, exert influence on, work on, have an impact on, impact on, alter, change, modify, transform, condition, control, play a part, take part, be an actor, be an actress, be one of the cast, appear, sham, fake, feign, put it on, bluff, pose, posture, masquerade, dissimulate, deed, human action, human activity, enactment, bit, number, routine, turn, action, gesture, feat, exploit, performance, undertaking, manoeuvre, stunt, operation, venture, effort, enterprise, achievement, accomplishment, pretence, false display, show, front, facade, charade, guise, affectation, appearance, comedy sketch, piece, item, law, decree, statute, bill, act of parliament, edict, fiat, dictum, dictate, resolution, ruling, rule, judgement, canon, ordinance, proclamation, command, commandment, mandate, measure, stipulation, direction, requirement, account, accounts, document, documents, documentation, data, file, files, dossier, dossiers, information, evidence, report, reports, division, section, subsection, portion, part, segment, component, sketch, skit, playlet, dance, song

Act as a Noun

Definitions of "Act" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “act” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.
• A performing group.
• A manifestation of insincerity.
• A main division of a play, ballet, or opera.
• A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program.
• A pretence.
• A document attesting a legal transaction.
• A written law passed by Parliament, Congress, etc.
• The recorded decisions or proceedings of a committee or an academic body.
• A particular type of behaviour or routine.
• A short performance that is part of a longer program.
• A New Testament book immediately following the Gospels and relating the history of the early Church.
• Something that people do or cause to happen.
• A thing done; a deed.
• A set performance.
• A subdivision of a play or opera or ballet.

Synonyms of "Act" as a noun (87 Words)

accomplishment	An activity that a person can do well. The accomplishment of planned objectives.
account	A short account of the news. Send me an account of what I owe.
accounts	The quality of taking advantage. By all accounts they were a happy couple.
achievement	The action of accomplishing something. A sense of achievement.
act of parliament	A subdivision of a play or opera or ballet.
action	The events represented in a story or play. The weapon has a smooth action.
affectation	A deliberate pretense or exaggerated display. An affectation of calm.
appearance	A mental representation. She checked her appearance in the mirror.
bill	A list of particulars as a playbill or bill of fare. A ten dollar bill.
bit	The cutting part of a drill usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press. Can you move over a bit.
canon	A contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts. The neoclassical canon.
charade	A word acted out in an episode of the game of charades. Talk of unity was nothing more than a charade.
comedy sketch	A comic incident or series of incidents.
command	The power or authority to command. The materials at the command of the potters grew.
commandment	A divine rule, especially one of the Ten Commandments. She had followed her mother s commandments for long enough.
component	Something determined in relation to something that includes it. The smaller component is hard to reach.
dance	A set of lively movements resembling a dance. She met her husband at a dance.
data	Things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation. Statistical data.
decree	The issuing of a decree. Presidential decrees.
deed	An action that is performed intentionally or consciously. He signed the deed.
dictate	A guiding principle. The dictates of reason.
dictum	A short statement that expresses a general truth or principle. The old dictum might is right.
direction	Something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action. He looked the other direction.
division	A group of organisms forming a subdivision of a larger category. The new clause was agreed without a division.
document	Writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature.
documentation	Documentary validation. His documentation of the results was excellent.
documents	Anything serving as a representation of a person’s thinking by means of symbolic marks.
dossier	A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject. A dossier of complaints.
dossiers	A collection of papers containing detailed information about a particular person or subject (usually a person’s record.
edict	An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority. Clovis issued an edict protecting Church property.
effort	Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something. Contributed to the war effort.
enactment	A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body. The enactment of equal pay legislation.
enterprise	An organization created for business ventures. Local enterprise agencies.
evidence	All the means by which any alleged matter of fact whose truth is investigated at judicial trial is established or disproved. The evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling.
exploit	A software tool designed to take advantage of a flaw in a computer system, typically for malicious purposes such as installing malware. Despite a series of colourful exploits his agents obtained little intelligence of value.
facade	A showy misrepresentation intended to conceal something unpleasant. Her flawless public facade masked private despair.
false display	A visual representation of something.
feat	An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength. The new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering.
fiat	A legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge. The reforms left most prices fixed by government fiat.
file	A set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together. MI5 were keeping a file on him.
files	A steel hand tool with small sharp teeth on some or all of its surfaces; used for smoothing wood or metal.
front	The part of a garment covering a person s front. She rolled over on to her front.
gesture	Something done as an indication of intention. Alex made a gesture of apology.
guise	An external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something. He visited in the guise of an inspector.
human action	Any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage.
human activity	Any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage.
information	In information theory a mathematical quantity expressing the probability of occurrence of a particular sequence of symbols impulses etc as against that of alternative sequences. Genetically transmitted information.
item	An entry in an account. They reduced the price on many items.
judgement	An opinion or conclusion. That is not in my judgement the end of the matter.
law	The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do. Law enforcement.
mandate	A commission by which a party is entrusted to perform a service, especially without payment and with indemnity against loss by that party. The last mandate of Trudeau from 1980 to 1984 was a remarkable chapter in Canadian history.
manoeuvre	A move made to gain a tactical end. Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes.
masquerade	A costume worn as a disguise at a masquerade party. A beggar s masquerade of wealth.
measure	Measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular intervals used as a reference in making measurements. The dimensions were in imperial measure.
move	The act of changing location from one place to another. They say that three moves equal one fire.
number	The number is used in calling a particular telephone. She picked up the phone and dialled his home number.
operation	The performance of some composite cognitive activity an operation that affects mental contents. The operations of the mind.
ordinance	A municipal by-law. They issued an ordinance limiting the length of nets.
part	That which concerns a person with regard to a particular role or situation. He tried to sing the tenor part.
performance	The extent to which an investment is profitable, especially in relation to other investments. It was a tremendous all round performance by Wigan.
piece	A work of art of some artistic value. A piece of cheese.
playlet	A short play.
portion	Something less than the whole of a human artifact. Burger joints offering huge portions.
pose	A posture assumed by models for photographic or artistic purposes. Photographs of boxers in ferocious poses.
posture	The arrangement of the body and its limbs. Trade unions adopted a more militant posture in wage negotiations.
pretence	An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. His anger is masked by a pretence that all is well.
proclamation	The formal act of proclaiming; giving public notice. Bold proclamations about their team s hopes for the season.
report	An employee who reports to another employee. The chairman s annual report.
reports	An essay (especially one written as an assignment. He heard reports that they were causing trouble.
requirement	Anything indispensable. Applicants must satisfy the normal entry requirements.
resolution	Computer science the number of pixels per square inch on a computer generated display the greater the resolution the better the picture. Complete remission was defined as resolution of clinical evidence of disease.
routine	A sequence of actions regularly followed. He was trying to persuade her to have a tap routine in the play.
rule	Linguistics a rule describing or prescribing a linguistic practice. During the rule of Elizabeth.
ruling	The reason for a court’s judgment (as opposed to the decision itself. The ruling was reversed in the appeal court.
section	The area created by a plane cutting through a solid. She got a job in the historical section of the Treasury.
segment	A portion of time allocated to a particular broadcast item on radio or television. A large segment of the local population.
show	An outward appearance or display of a quality or feeling. Drew made a show of looking around for firewood.
sketch	A humorous or satirical drawing published in a newspaper or magazine. A charcoal sketch.
skit	A short theatrical episode. Students will create skits about bullying and go to each elementary school to perform them.
song	A musical composition suggestive of a song. The wheels sang their song as the train rocketed ahead.
statute	An act passed by a legislative body. Immunities granted to trade unions by statute.
stipulation	(law) an agreement or concession made by parties in a judicial proceeding (or by their attorneys) relating to the business before the court; must be in writing unless they are part of the court record. They donated their collection of prints with the stipulation that they never be publicly exhibited.
stunt	A creature (especially a whale) that has been prevented from attaining full growth.
subsection	A section of a section; a part of a part; i.e., a part of something already divided. Each chapter has a different theme and numerous subsections.
turn	A place where a road meets or branches off another a turning. You gave us quite a turn.
undertaking	The action of undertaking to do something. I give an undertaking that we shall proceed with the legislation.
venture	Any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome. Pioneering ventures into little known waters.

Usage Examples of "Act" as a noun

• He put on quite an act for her benefit.
• She was putting on an act and laughing a lot.
• The 1989 Children Act.
• He did his act three times every evening.
• An act called the Apple Blossom Sisters.
• An act of heroism.
• The act of writing down one's thoughts.
• A criminal act.
• He did his Sir Galahad act.
• Her one-woman poetry act.
• The first act.

Act as a Verb

Definitions of "Act" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “act” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure.
• Perform on a stage or theater.
• Perform a role in a play, film, or television.
• Play a role or part.
• Discharge one's duties.
• Take action; do something.
• Behave in the way specified.
• Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind.
• Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself.
• Be suitable for theatrical performance.
• Take effect; have a particular effect.
• Behave unnaturally or affectedly.
• Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action.
• Behave so as to appear to be; pretend to be.
• Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected.

Synonyms of "Act" as a verb (50 Words)

act as	Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure.
affect	Make believe with the intent to deceive. The dampness began to affect my health.
alter	Make an alteration to. This dress needs to be altered.
appear	Come into being or existence or appear on the scene. This appears to be a very difficult problem.
be an actor	Represent, as of a character on stage.
be an actress	Represent, as of a character on stage.
be one of the cast	Spend or use time.
behave	Behave in a certain manner show a certain behavior conduct or comport oneself. Each car behaves differently.
bluff	Try to deceive someone as to one’s abilities or intentions. They bluffed their way past the sentries.
change	Change clothes put on different clothes. Filters change the ammonia into nitrate.
condition	Apply conditioner to in order to make smooth and shiny. A product for conditioning leather.
control	Exercise authoritative control or power over. Are you controlling for the temperature.
dissemble	Make believe with the intent to deceive. An honest sincere person with no need to dissemble.
dissimulate	Hide (feelings) from other people. Now that they have power they no longer need to dissimulate.
do	Get something done. Peter has done thirteen years in the RAF.
do something	Create or design, often in a certain way.
exert influence on	Make a great effort at a mental or physical task.
fake	Forge or counterfeit (something. Rob faked suspicion a jealous concern.
feign	Invent (a story or excuse). He feigned that he was ill.
function	Serve a purpose role or function. The museum intends to function as an educational and study centre.
go ahead	Be awarded; be allotted.
have an effect on	Have as a feature.
have an impact on	Achieve a point or goal.
impact on	Have an effect upon.
influence	Shape or influence give direction to. The artist s work influenced the young painter.
make a move	Cause to be enjoyable or pleasurable.
masquerade	Take part in a masquerade. Idle gossip that masquerades as news.
modify	(especially of an adjective) restrict or add to the sense of (a noun. She may be prepared to modify her views.
move	Have a turn make one s move in a game. We moved from Idaho to Nebraska.
perform	Perform a function. I have my duties to perform.
play	Play on an instrument. He played with the idea of running for the Senate.
play a part	Make bets.
playact	Perform on a stage or theater.
pose	Assume a posture as for artistic purposes. We don t know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often.
posture	Assume a posture as for artistic purposes. She postured and made a total fool of herself.
pretend	Represent fictitiously as in a play or pretend to be or act like. He cannot pretend to sophistication.
proceed	Follow a procedure or take a course. His claim that all power proceeded from God.
put it on	Cause to be in a certain state; cause to be in a certain relation.
react	Undergo a chemical reaction react with another substance under certain conditions. He reacted angrily to the news of his dismissal.
represent	Be representative or typical for. This figure represents eleven per cent of the company s total sales.
roleplay	Perform on a stage or theater.
sham	Falsely present something as the truth. The opossum escapes danger by shamming dead.
take action	Serve oneself to, or consume regularly.
take measures	Have with oneself; have on one’s person.
take part	Proceed along in a vehicle.
take steps	Take something or somebody with oneself somewhere.
take the initiative	Take into one’s possession.
transform	Change a mathematical entity by transformation. Transform energy to light.
work	Set to or keep at work. Look for small parts that might work loose.
work on	Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.

Usage Examples of "Act" as a verb

• How does your idea work in practice?
• The governor should act on the new energy bill.
• He denied the charges, claiming that he had acted in self-defence.
• They should remove taxes that act to suppress demand.
• She acted in her first professional role at the age of six.
• She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role.
• The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people.
• The breaks of my new car act quickly.
• Governments must act to reduce pollution.
• They urged Washington to act.
• She acts in this play.
• I acted dumb at first.
• He acted the idiot.
• The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel.
• She acts as the chair.
• He acted in `Julius Caesar.
• This scene acts well.
• Try to act like civilized adults.
• She's just acting.
• He acted the role of the king.
• Blood samples are analysed to find out how the drug acts in the body.
• You should act like an adult.
• Think before you act.
• He acts as if he owned the place.
• They challenged a man who was seen acting suspiciously.
• In what capacity are you acting?

Associations of "Act" (30 Words)

assigned	Appointed to a post or duty. Assigned duties.
attitude	A settled way of thinking or feeling about something. He assumed an attitude of surrender.
behave	Behave in a certain manner. He always behaved like a gentleman.
behavioral	Of or relating to behavior. Behavioral sciences.
behaviour	(psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation. His insulting behaviour towards me.
comport	Conduct oneself; behave. Articulate students who comported themselves well in interviews.
conduct	Transmit a form of energy such as heat or electricity by conduction. A code of conduct for directors of listed companies.
conscious	Showing realization or recognition of something- Thomas Hardy. The careful tread of one conscious of his alcoholic load.
deed	Convey or transfer property or rights by legal deed. They deeded their property to their children.
demeanor	The way a person behaves toward other people.
dissemble	Hide under a false appearance. An honest sincere person with no need to dissemble.
do	Doctor s degree in osteopathy. We could do with a little more help around here.
equipped	Carrying weapons. A ship equipped with every mechanical aid to navigation.
ethology	The branch of zoology that studies the behavior of animals in their natural habitats.
inclined	(often followed by `to’) having a preference, disposition, or tendency. An inclined ramp.
inconsiderate	Without proper consideration or reflection. Slovenly inconsiderate reasoning.
moralistic	Narrowly and conventionally moral. A moralistic stance on advertising.
participation	The action of taking part in something. Participation in chapel activities.
prepared	Equipped or prepared with necessary intellectual resources. She was prepared and professional.
pretend	Represent fictitiously as in a play or pretend to be or act like. Dangling their legs in the water to catch pretend fish.
pretension	A claim or assertion of a claim to something. All that we cannot tolerate is pretension to infallibility.
prosecute	Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in. A serious threat to the government s ability to prosecute the war.
reluctantly	In an unwilling and hesitant way. He reluctantly agrees to do his duty.
smatter	Work with in an amateurish manner. She smatters Russian.
standby	Something that can be relied on when needed. Standbys are allowed to board when all the passengers with confirmed reservations are seated.
unforced	Not resulting from undue effort; not forced. An unforced cheerfulness.
volitional	Relating to the use of one’s will. Acceptance is a volitional act.
voluntary	(of a conveyance or disposition) made without return in money or other consideration. Voluntary contraction of the calf muscles.
willful	Done by design. Willful disobedience.
willing	Ready, eager, or prepared to do something. Willing and prompt obedience.