acts 1 of 2

plural of act
1
as in numbers
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group in his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars

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4

acts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of act
1
2
as in works
to produce a desired effect the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in functions
to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

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5
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as in mocks
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acts
Noun
Knight previously detailed her journey in her memoir Acts of Kindness: My Story in 2011. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 The 14 Best Christmas Garlands of 2024 03 of 17 Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar Celebrate the season by doing good! Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024 Contributing editor David Quammen was Outside’s Natural Acts Columnist from 1981 to 1996. David Quammen, Outside Online, 29 Nov. 2024 Her studio debut, Acts of Rebellion, came out back in the autumn of 2020. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Nov. 2024 The act was designed to counter the problems of the 1876 election, when some states submitted competing slates; that election required a compromise to settle on a winner, and the cost was undoing many of the Reconstruction Acts. Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024 Related Shakira Ties Enrique Iglesias for Most Top 10s on Latin Airplay Among Pop Acts 10/22/2024 Previously, Brat peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Chart earlier this year. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024 What started in the late 1970s with landmark laws like the Resource Conservation Recovery Act and the Clean Water and Air Acts has grown into a complex regulatory landscape. John F. McQuillan, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Mordecai Sheftall, who lived in Georgia, was one of the few people there who had pledged to resist the Coercive Acts: Britain’s efforts to blockade Boston and place Massachusetts under military rule after the Boston Tea Party. Adam Jortner, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
This tool acts as a diagnostic framework to identify and address the constraints—both tangible and intangible—that may be holding the family business back. Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Your boss’s emotion acts like Wi-Fi, and your boss like the modem, casting their emotion onto you and your team. Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 The first set of turbines acts as a shock absorber, protecting the delicate movement components from external impacts. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Dunaway’s Anastasia, a spiritualist in the town, acts as a bridge of enlightenment coming to the aid of Crystal (Bassinger) guiding her to the revelation behind her cousin (Kampouris) and her Dark Secret. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024 This acts as extra security for those accounts. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 Indianapolis will see an abundance of classic dad rock acts in the summer months, with stars like Gene Simmons, Christopher Cross, Men at Work and more planning stops in and around the city. Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Dec. 2024 Editor’s picks While more than 400,000 recordings have been digitized and made available to listen to on the Great 78 Project, the lawsuit focuses on about 4,000, most by recognizable legacy acts like Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Ella Fitzgerald. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024 The voucher acts as a discount at the point of buying an e-bike. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts
Noun
  • Traditionally, vehicle owners took their cars and trucks to dealerships, garages and other providers of service for such things as oil changes, tire rotation, battery replacement, and work related to recalls.
    Bill Koenig, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Do the wonders of the natural world draw you closer to all things green?
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Infused with cica, green tea, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E to soothe and protect the skin barrier, the formula works for people of all skin types.
    Sarah Han, Allure, 30 Nov. 2024
  • This handheld vacuum has 69,000 five-star ratings, works on carpet, hardwood, and tile floors, and weighs less than 3 pounds.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • And seems to be just as serious about making the smart glasses itself.
    David Pierce, The Verge, 11 Dec. 2024
  • However, that seems to be less effective for maintaining constant blood levels over the long term than simply taking smaller regular doses of around 800 to 2000 IU daily.
    Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • This is also a good time to reassess routines.
    Nazar Gulyk, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • That also means establishing consistent morning routines and bedtime routines.
    Taylor Grothe, Parents, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Dickey also disclosed that several people had emailed his staff offering to foot Mangione’s legal bills.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Dickey also disclosed that several people had emailed his staff offering to foot Mangione’s legal bills.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Create channels for feedback to ensure your team understands the reason behind your actions.
    Antony Robinson, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • External pressures force us to rethink our actions.
    Nazar Gulyk, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Watch on Deadline The network typically performs very well toward the end of the year with both 25 Days of Christmas and 31 Nights of Halloween in October, which both include a lineup of fan-favorite films to draw audiences in.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Dylan shows up midway through the taping and performs a song with Moffette.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, operates roughly 2,300 stores in 34 states, including brands like Jewel Osco, Safeway and Shaw's.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Event Cinemas currently operates two ScreenX theaters in Australia alongside its 4DX locations, while Showtime Cinemas will host nine ScreenX, four Ultra 4DX, and one 4DX theater by the end of 2025.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Acts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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