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.
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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