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serving temporarily, especially as a substitute during another’s absence; not permanent; temporary:
the acting mayor.
designed, adapted, or suitable for stage performance.
provided with detailed stage directions for the performer:
an acting version of a play.
the art, profession, or activity of those who perform in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.
anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance:
a heroic act.
the process of doing:
caught in the act.
a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award:
an act of Congress.
an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.
one of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.
a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.
the personnel of such a group:
The act broke up after 30 years.
false show; pretense; feint:
The politician’s pious remarks were all an act.
Philosophy.

activity in process; operation.
the principle or power of operation.
form as determining essence.
a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.

to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative:
He acted promptly in the emergency.
to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter:
I am required to act before noon tomorrow.
to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions:
to act as manager.
to produce an effect; perform a function:
The medicine failed to act.
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion:
to act well under all conditions.
to pretend; feign:
Act interested even if you’re bored.
to perform as an :
He acted in three plays by Molière.
to be capable of being performed:
His plays don’t act well.
to serve or substitute (usually followed by for):
In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.
to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one’s person:
to act Macbeth.
to feign; counterfeit:
to act outraged virtue.
to behave as:
He acted the fool.
Obsolete. to .
act on/upon,

to act in accordance with; follow:
He acted on my advice.
to have an effect on; affect:
The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.

act out,

to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures:
The party guests acted out stories for one another.
Psychology. to give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding:
The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.

act up,

to fail to function properly; malfunction:
The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
to behave willfully:
The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
to become painful or troublesome, especially after a period of improvement or remission:
My arthritis is acting up again this morning.

get/have one’s act together, Informal. to organize one’s time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently:
The new administration is still getting its act together.
act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.
act one’s age, to behave in a manner appropriate to one’s maturity:
We children enjoyed our uncle because he didn’t always act his age.
clean up one’s act, Informal. to begin adhering to more acceptable practices, rules of behavior, etc.:
The factory must clean up its act and treat its employees better.
Contemporary Examples

So why, Eric Alterman asks, are the Democrats acting so timid?
How Obama Wimped Out Eric Alterman April 28, 2010

It went on to accuse the company itself of misleading the committee and acting to cover up the scandal.
British Lawmakers: Rupert Murdoch Unfit to Run News Corp. Peter Jukes, Mike Giglio April 30, 2012

What does it take to presume that someone is acting in good faith?
Hillary Clinton Haters Hammered for Mocking Her Illness Lauren Ashburn January 1, 2013

Currently acting CEO of TV company Ten Network Holdings, he has seen the company share price drop 40 percent since he took over.
The Murdoch Family Succession Psychodrama Alex Massie November 23, 2011

The fact that many have sounded similar themes does not mean that they are acting together as a mob.
Judge Condemns Bernie’s “Evil” Crime The Daily Beast June 28, 2009

Historical Examples

acting or no acting, the girl felt that she couldn’t deny her again.
Elsie Marley, Honey Joslyn Gray

Stephen, moreover, always shrank from his uncle when acting professionally.
The Armourer’s Prentices Charlotte M. Yonge

If she cared nothing for him, she was acting in a reprehensible manner.
The Rough Road William John Locke

But are you quite certain that you are acting wisely, Miss Ward?
Grace Harlowe’s Return to Overton Campus Jessie Graham Flower

Let us go straight to the attraction, and not be acting contrary to the laws of nature.
The Funny Philosophers George Yellott

adjective (prenominal)
taking on duties temporarily, esp as a substitute for another: the acting president
operating or functioning: an acting order
intended for stage performance; provided with directions for actors: an acting version of “Hedda Gabler”
noun
the art or profession of an actor
noun
something done or performed; a deed
the performance of some physical or mental process; action
(capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc
(often pl) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body
a major division of a dramatic work

a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment
those giving such a performance

an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress
(philosophy) an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determined Compare event (sense 4)
verb
(intransitive) to do something; carry out an action
(intransitive) to function in a specified way; operate; react: his mind acted quickly
to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc
(transitive) to present (a play, etc) on stage
(intransitive; usually foll by for or as) to be a substitute (for); function in place (of)
(intransitive) foll by as. to serve the function or purpose (of): the glass acted as protection
(intransitive) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were): she usually acts like a lady
(intransitive) to behave in an unnatural or affected way
(copula) to pose as; play the part of: to act the fool
(copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one’s age)
(copula) (not standard) to seem or pretend to be: to act tired
clean up one’s act, to start to behave in a responsible manner
(informal) get in on the act, to become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits
(informal) get one’s act together, to become organized or prepared
abbreviation
Australian Capital Territory
(formerly in Britain) advance corporation tax
noun acronym
(in New Zealand) Association of Consumers and Taxpayers: a small political party of the right
adj.

1590s, “putting forth activity,” present participle adjective from act (v.). Meaning “performing temporary duties” is from 1797.
n.

c.1600, “performance of deeds;” 1660s, “performance of plays;” verbal noun from present participle of act (v.). Acting out in psychology is from 1945.
n.

late 14c., “a thing done,” from Old French acte “(official) document,” and directly from Latin actus “a doing, a driving, impulse; a part in a play, act,” and actum “a thing done,” originally a legal term, both from agere “to do, set in motion, drive, urge, chase, stir up,” from PIE root *ag- “to drive, draw out or forth, move” (cf. Greek agein “to lead, guide, drive, carry off,” agon “assembly, contest in the games,” agogos “leader;” Sanskrit ajati “drives,” ajirah “moving, active;” Old Norse aka “to drive;” Middle Irish ag “battle”).

Theatrical (“part of a play,” 1510s) and legislative (early 15c.) senses of the word also were in Latin. Meaning “display of exaggerated behavior” is from 1928. In the act “in the process” is from 1590s, perhaps originally from the 16c. sense of the act as “sexual intercourse.” Act of God “uncontrollable natural force” recorded by 1726.

An act of God is an accident which arises from a cause which operates without interference or aid from man (1 Pars. on Cont. 635); the loss arising wherefrom cannot be guarded against by the ordinary exertions of human skill and prudence so as to prevent its effect. [William Wait, “General Principles of the Law,” Albany, 1879]

v.

mid-15c., “to act upon or adjudicate” a legal case; 1590s in the theatrical sense, from Latin actus, past participle of agere (see act (n.)). To act up “be unruly” is from 1903. To act out “behave anti-socially” (1974) is from psychiatric sense of “expressing one’s unconscious impulses or desires.” Related: Acted; acting.

noun

A display of pretended feeling; an affected pretense: His elaborate grief was just an act
A dramatic mimicking; shtick,takeoff: You oughta see my Brando act

Related Terms

a class act, clean up one’s act, do the dutch, go into one’s act, sister act
a trademark for a standardized college entrance examination; originally American College Test
American Conservatory Theater
Waco Regional Airport

act of faith
act of God
act on
act one’s age
act out
act up
act upon

also see:

catch in the act
clean up (one’s act)
do a disappearing act
get in the act
get one’s act together
hard (tough) act to follow
high-wire act
in the act of
put on an act