Skip to main content
act

act

84 3.7
A main part of a play or opera made of several scenes
  • noun
  • /ækt/
: acto
  • In the third act, it happen.
  • first act
  • second act
  • final act

We're going to do the entire second act as walruses.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • It's a scene in the last act of the play.

  • We're between the first act and the second act and there's no rush.

  • OK, This is what Act One looks like.

  • OK, This is what Act one looks like.

  • The second act needs work.

  • The third act of that script was awful.

  • Each of these themes is organized in three acts similar to those in a play.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Oh, this is the third act of that Pixar movie.

  • Ladies and gentlemen, the last act of the evening, Alpha Chiro.

  • The director praised the cast for their performance in the act that depicted the tragic climax of the story.

Idioms

49 4.4

While someone is doing something wrong and someone else sees them

Someone finds a person while they are doing something wrong

7 7.9

To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment

To consider what might happen before you do something

1 6.3

To be organized, prepared, and able to manage tasks and problems

to act like a diva
  • Offensive
1 8.2

Behave in a very dramatic, demanding way to get special treatment

to act like a pig
  • Offensive
1 8.0

To behave in a greedy and messy way, often when eating with others

to act like a putz
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To behave in a silly or clumsy way

1 6.8

Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you

To give loud, cheerful support to someone to encourage them

1 9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

1 9.9

To behave rudely and foolishly in a way that annoys or embarrasses people

1 9.9

To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others

Send back light and show a clear image of things nearby

1 4.6

To organize yourself and behave better to reach a goal

to act like a ditz
  • Offensive
1 9.6

Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk

1 8.6

To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired

Behave in a rude, demanding way to staff or other people

9.9

To behave in a silly or wild way that makes people laugh

To behave in a silly and immature way

9.9

To ignore good advice and behave foolishly

9.9

To wait for someone else to have a problem so you can gain from it

to act like a bum
  • Offensive
8.6

To behave lazily and avoid work or responsibility

to act like a chav
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave loudly and show off, for example by shouting or flashing money in Britain

9.9

To treat other people rudely and think only about yourself

9.9

To behave in a foolish and clumsy way

Behave in a very foolish or rude way

9.9

To behave very rudely and make other people angry or upset

9.9

Behave in a very rude and insulting way to other people

9.9

To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh

To behave in a silly or annoying way

9.9

To behave foolishly or clumsily

9.9

To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish

to act like a dodo
  • Offensive
9.3

To behave foolishly and show little common sense

9.9

Behave in a silly, clumsy way

9.6

Behave in a silly or foolish way

9.9

To behave in a very foolish and rude way

9.9

To behave loudly and show off to impress other people in an annoying way

9.9

To behave in a weak, scared way instead of being brave

9.6

Behave in a silly, not very smart way

Behave in a showy way to seem more important

9.9

Behave in a sad, lonely way that makes you look awkward with other people

8.1

Behave in a loud, showy way to get attention

9.9

To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules

9.9

To react to criticism by becoming easily offended or upset

8.9

Behave like a king and ignore other people's ideas

Behave in a very rude and thoughtless way that upsets other people

9.9

To behave foolishly and not take responsibility

9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

9.9

Behave in a rude, annoying, and foolish way toward other people

To predict future events very accurately as if you already knew them

9.9

To behave in a boring, old-fashioned way around other people

Compounds

35 6.9

A violent act against ordinary people to frighten others for political, religious or other beliefs

27 7.2

Planned violent action to make people afraid for political, religious or other ideas

sex act
  • NSFW
25 3.7

Sexual activity between people, often intercourse

balancing act
  • Informal
23 4.4

A situation of managing two or more important things at the same time, like work and family

act of God
  • Specialized
22 6.8

A natural event like a flood or earthquake that cannot be prevented by people

A small helpful action someone does to make another person's day better

class act
  • Informal
18 4.0

A person who shows skill and style when things are difficult

11 4.1

A law that the United States Congress passes

8 6.8

An action or decision you make because you trust something without proof

circus act
  • Informal
8 4.2

A noisy, chaotic event with people everywhere

5 9.9

A former English law that required crowds to leave when a local official read a formal announcement

juggling act
  • Informal
4 4.9

A situation where a person manages several important tasks at once, often with difficulty

3 3.9

A short play with only one act

riot act
  • Informal
3 7.4

A strong warning to someone to stop bad behavior

RICO Act
  • Formal
3 7.2

A U.S. federal law that punishes organized crime and lets authorities seize money and property

A United States law that requires courts to approve spying on foreign people or groups

2 5.5

A law passed by a parliament or congress

1 7.8

A law that puts a paid official stamp on newspapers and legal papers in the American colonies which causes protests

special act
  • Formal
1 8.3

A law made to help one person, group, or place instead of everyone

speech act
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Words that you say to do something, like asking or promising

enabling act
  • Formal
1 6.3

A part of a law that gives officials the power to put the law into action

United States law from 1970 used to fight organized crime by giving stronger punishments

A United States law that makes workplaces safer by setting safety rules and making sure employers follow them

act of darkness
  • Literature
1 9.9

A very bad action that harms people

four-act play
  • Archaic
1 6.3

A play divided into four parts that each show part of the story

1 8.3

Sex between two people who are not married to each other

1 7.7

A nickname for a law that extends copyright to help large media companies like Disney

1 7.8

Former US law that let manufacturers require shops to sell goods at a minimum price

1 8.9

A very cruel action that shows no human feeling

9.9

A stage show that mixes playful, sexy comedy with dance

chronocidal act
  • Literature
9.9

An action that breaks the normal flow of time, often in stories

act of Iscariotism
  • Literature
9.9

To betray someone for money or personal gain

How Long

play
888 1.4
part
∞ 1.0
act
84 3.7
scene
∞ 1.9

Surface Forms

act singular
acts plural

Etymology

Act comes from the Latin actus, meaning 'a doing' or 'movement'. So in a play an act is a main part of the story — a big 'doing' or section of the drama.