Englisch

act

gb/ˈækt/ us/ˈækt/
A2 Englisch
~ 700
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Verb A2 action
1

Do something intentionally

To do something for a reason or because of a situation.

Verwendungsmuster: to act [in a way]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse 'act' with 'play' in the sense of performing in a theater or movie; context determines meaning.
Synonyme
do (A very general term for performing an action, less formal than 'act'.)
Antonyme
refrain (Means to deliberately not take action.)
Wortverbindungen
act quickly |act responsibly |act decisively |act immediately |act accordingly
Themen
daily life |behavior |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • You need to act quickly if you want to help.
  • The government must act to protect the environment.
  • She acted without thinking about the consequences.
  • We should act responsibly during emergencies.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • I must act now to help.
  • He acted to stop the fire.
  • They act when they see danger.
  • We should act to save the animals.
Verb A2 action
2

Perform as a character

To play a role in a movie, TV show, or play.

Verwendungsmuster: to act [as/like a character]
Häufiger Fehler:
Some learners confuse 'act' with 'react'; 'act' here means to perform for an audience.
Synonyme
perform (General term for presenting a role or work to an audience.)
Antonyme
direct (The opposite role in production—guiding rather than performing.)
Wortverbindungen
act in a movie |act on stage |act the part |act as Hamlet
Themen
arts |entertainment |arts_entertainment
Beispiele
  • He acted in several blockbuster films.
  • She is acting in a new stage production.
  • They acted out the scene beautifully.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • I want to act in movies.
  • She acts on the stage every week.
  • He acts as the main hero.
Nomen B1 entity
3

Law made by government

A law made by the government and written down officially.

Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may confuse 'act' with 'action'; an 'act' here is a legal document, not just any deed.
Synonyme
statute (A formal legal term for a written law.)
Antonyme
custom (An unwritten rule based on tradition rather than formal law.)
Wortverbindungen
pass an act |under the act |according to the act
Themen
law |government |politics
Beispiele
  • The Act was passed by Parliament last year.
  • This is illegal under the new Act.
  • The Act protects workers’ rights.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • The Act says we must wear seat belts.
  • This Act helps poor families.
  • The Act is new this year.
Nomen B1 event
4

Single deed or action

One thing that a person does, often judged as good or bad.

Synonyme
deed (Often more formal or literary than 'act'.)
Antonyme
inaction (Failure to do anything when action is expected.)
Wortverbindungen
a kind act |an act of kindness |criminal act
Themen
behavior |core_vocabulary |law
Beispiele
  • It was an act of great bravery.
  • Stealing is a criminal act.
  • Helping her was an act of kindness.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • It was an act of love.
  • That was a bad act.
  • He did an act of kindness.
Nomen A2 entity
5

Part of a play or show

A main part of a play or show, usually with several scenes.

Synonyme
section (A general term for any part of something; less specific to performance.)
Wortverbindungen
first act |final act |two-act play
Themen
arts |arts_entertainment |education
Beispiele
  • The first act ends with a dramatic scene.
  • There are three acts in this play.
  • The second act is my favorite.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • The first act was very short.
  • Act two is funny.
  • The last act made me cry.
Grammatik
Grundform
act
IPA
GB/ˈækt/
US/ˈækt/
Silben & Betonung
act (1 Silbe)
Stress on 1st syllable (act)
Wortformen
Verb
  • Base: act
  • 3rd Person Singular: acts
  • Present Participle: acting
  • Past: acted
Wortfamilie
Forms
acts verb acting verb acted verb
Core family
action noun B1 active adjective A2 activity noun A2 actor noun A2 actively adverb B1
Related words
actress noun A2 activate verb B1 react verb A2 reaction noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
inactive adjective B1 inactivity noun
Advanced or less common
activation noun B2 activist noun B1 activism noun B2 interactive adjective B1
Ausdrücke

act on

1
/ˈækt ˈɔn/
phrasal verb

Take action based on advice/info

To do something because of advice, information, or instructions you got.

Beispiele
  • The police acted on the tip they received.
  • She is acting on her doctor’s advice.

act out

1
/ˈækt ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb

Perform or express through actions

To show something by acting it like in a play, or to show feelings by behaving badly instead of talking about them.

Beispiele
  • The students acted out the story in class.
  • He’s been acting out since his parents divorced.

act up

1
/ˈækt ˈʌp/
phrasal verb informal

Misbehave or malfunction

To not work properly or to behave badly.

Beispiele
  • My car is acting up again and won’t start.
  • The children started acting up during dinner.

catch someone in the act

1
/kˈæt͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪn ðə ˈækt/
idiom

See someone doing wrong thing

To see someone doing something bad or illegal at the moment it happens.

Beispiele
  • The police caught him in the act of stealing the car.
  • I caught her in the act of cheating on the test.

get your act together

1
/ɡˈɛt jˈʊɹ ˈækt təɡˈɛðɚ/
idiom informal

Organize and improve behavior/work

To become organized and start working well or behaving correctly.

Beispiele
  • If you want to pass the exam, you need to get your act together.
  • He finally got his act together and found a job.

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