1act 
/ˈækt/ noun
plural acts /ˈækt/ noun 1 [count] : something that is done
▪ His first official act [=action] as President was to sign the bill. ▪ We were grateful for her many acts of kindness. ▪ an act of bravery = a brave act ▪ criminal/illegal/unlawful/wrongful acts — see also sex act ◊An act of God is a natural event (such as a storm or earthquake) that cannot be controlled by people.
▪ The company cannot be held responsible in cases of bad weather or other acts of God. 2 [count] : a law made by a group of legislators
▪ The program was created by (an) act of Congress/Parliament. ▪ legislative acts ▪ the Civil Rights Act of 1964 3 [count] : one of the main divisions of a play or opera
▪ Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. ▪ In the first/opening act, two characters are talking in a restaurant. ▪ a play in three acts = a three-act play 4 [count] a : one of the performances in a show
▪ a circus/magic act
b : a show that a person or group performs often
▪ He has a great stand-up/comedy act. [=routine] ▪ She took her act on the road. [=she traveled and performed her act in different places]
c : a person or group that performs in shows
▪ a two-person comedy act from New York City ▪ The band was one of this summer's most successful live acts. ◊A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time.
▪ It's a difficult balancing act, but many students hold full-time jobs while attending school. ▪ Working and raising children can be a real juggling act for parents. — see also class act, a hard/tough act to follow at follow 5 [singular] : a way of behaving that is not honest or sincere
▪ He said he was sorry, but I realize now that it was all just an act. ▪ He wasn't really sorry. He was just putting on an act.
▪ His first official act [=action] as President was to sign the bill. ▪ We were grateful for her many acts of kindness. ▪ an act of bravery = a brave act ▪ criminal/illegal/unlawful/wrongful acts — see also sex act ◊An act of God is a natural event (such as a storm or earthquake) that cannot be controlled by people.
▪ The company cannot be held responsible in cases of bad weather or other acts of God.
▪ The program was created by (an) act of Congress/Parliament. ▪ legislative acts ▪ the Civil Rights Act of 1964
▪ Please read act II, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. ▪ In the first/opening act, two characters are talking in a restaurant. ▪ a play in three acts = a three-act play
▪ a circus/magic act
b : a show that a person or group performs often
▪ He has a great stand-up/comedy act. [=routine] ▪ She took her act on the road. [=she traveled and performed her act in different places]
c : a person or group that performs in shows
▪ a two-person comedy act from New York City ▪ The band was one of this summer's most successful live acts. ◊A balancing act or juggling act is an attempt to do several different things or deal with several different situations at the same time.
▪ It's a difficult balancing act, but many students hold full-time jobs while attending school. ▪ Working and raising children can be a real juggling act for parents. — see also class act, a hard/tough act to follow at follow
▪ He said he was sorry, but I realize now that it was all just an act. ▪ He wasn't really sorry. He was just putting on an act.
clean up your act — see clean up at 2clean
get into the act or get in on the act
: to start to participate in an activity
▪ We started selling them last year, and now other stores are getting into the act. [=now other stores are also selling them]
▪ We started selling them last year, and now other stores are getting into the act. [=now other stores are also selling them]
get your act together — see get together at get
in the act (of doing something)
: while doing something
▪ When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner. ▪ He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank.
▪ When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner. ▪ He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank.
