Headway Word of the Week

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act

We act when there is a particular or urgent need for action.

• The surgeons acted quickly to save her life.

We can act in particular ways which aren't normal.

• Two men were acting suspiciously outside the bank yesterday evening.

We act when we play a role, in films and plays, but also in real life.

• Jack went to drama school because he wanted to learn to act.
• I'm acting the part of Romeo in the school play.
• Peter is acting as if he doesn't care about the exams - but in fact he's very worried.
• I don't speak French so you'll have to act as interpreter when we go to Paris.

Check out phrasal verbs

• The police acted on the information they received from witnesses.
  ( = take action as a result)
• Mr Smith's daughter will be acting for him during the enquiry because Mr Smith is too ill to attend.
  ( = represent)
• My car's acting up. I'll have to take it to the garage.
• My back's acting up. I'll have to go to the doctor's.
  ( = develop problems)

Check out expressions and collocations

The expression act out of is often followed by the following nouns that express a reason:
love/necessity/sympathy/compassion/jealousy/greed/desperation/curiosity

• She acted out of love.
  ( = her excuse/reason for doing something was love)

Act is often used with an adverb.

• He acted badly.

The following adverbs often collocate with act:
suspiciously/illegally/strangely/responsibly/dishonestly/

Check out how act is different from behave

Behave is a synonym of act when it means to act in a particular way.

• Two men were behaving (or acting) suspiciously outside the bank yesterday evening.

Behave does not have the other meanings of act.

• The doctors had to act quickly to save John's life. (not behave)

Behave (and not act) is used to describe whether people are well-mannered and don't cause trouble, especially with children.

The children have behaved very well today. (not acted)

Check out other related words

• play
• perform
• take the part of
  

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