to act as
25
3.4
- phrasal verb
- /ækt æz/
:
actuar como si
- If there is something that you wish to become, act as if that were what you already are.
- acts as a distraction
- acted as an observer
It's that we've all agreed to act as if I'm insane.
- It's that we've all agreed to act as if I'm insane.
- And even if it's a lie, you act as if it's true.
- But I must act as if I can still do things.
- I just don't trust people who don't laugh, who act as if I'm serious.
- Like by doing that you're, you're acting as if I don't know what's going on here.
- And you don't act as if the world works the way you wish it does.
- The world may not support you and often act as though you're being dismissive.
- And even if you don't believe in it, keep acting as though you do.
- When I give people grace, I feel like I'm acting as Christ would want me to.
- If there is something that you wish to become, act as if that were what you already are.
- If you don't question your thoughts, you believe them and then you act as if they're true, even if they're.
- But I feel like we've all dated losers as me acting as if I've dated David.
- I think his position would be, and he's said this before, that he acts as if God exists.
- Like courage is acting as though you weren't afraid, Like, like what do you do?
- You've got people who helped fund it, and they all sort of act as if it's not the result of their actions.
- It would be glorious to see a large group of aunts acting as a parrot.
Examples
-
You act as though you wanted me here for all time.
-
You all act as though it were nothing at all.
-
But I must act as if I can still do things.
-
And then began to act as though he really was the boss because he could.
-
In effect, the wing would act as if alive.
-
We are their instruments and must always act as though we are at war.
-
And even if it's a lie, you act as if it's true.
-
And even if you don't believe in it, keep acting as though you do.
-
You act as if the undead had already defeated us.
-
You should act as if you have confidence, even when you feel nervous.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Behave in a certain way, often to pretend or hide feelings
∞
2.5
Behave in a way to trick or amuse someone
∞
8.1
To pretend to be someone or something else
∞
2.3
To act as if something is true when it is not
172
6.1
To pretend to be someone you are not to trick people
115
8.1
To pretend to have a feeling or quality to deceive others
70
7.2
Pretend to be another person by copying their looks, voice or actions
69
8.0
To claim to be or do something, often without proof
43
5.3
To show yourself as a certain kind of person to make others think that way
40
7.2
Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people
36
3.0
To act as a character in a play or as someone in a real situation
27
6.0
To pretend or claim something is true when it is not
27
4.8
To act out a scene in front of people, like in a play
26
6.9
To pretend to be someone else to hide the truth
20
6.7
Pretend to have a feeling to trick people
11
5.0
Pretend to have a quality or feeling
2
6.1
To act out a scene to practice or show how something happens
2
6.7
To pretend to be a person in a story on stage or with friends
1
9.9
Pretend to be another person to trick people or act in a role
Antonyms
How Convincing
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning (to behave in a role or pretend to be something) is directly built from 'act' (to behave) plus 'as' (in the capacity/role of), so the overall sense is compositionally predictable. This role-marking use of 'as' is common in English and parallels patterns in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Act as comes from stage acting, where a person pretends to be someone else. Because actors 'act as' other people, the phrase also means 'to pretend' or 'to behave as if'.