Antonyms for act

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : akt

Phonetic Transcription : ækt

Definition of act

Origin : late 14c., "a thing done," from Old French acte "(official) document," and directly from Latin actus "a doing, a driving, impulse; a part in a play, act," and actum "a thing done," originally a legal term, both from agere "to do, set in motion, drive, urge, chase, stir up," from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move" (cf. Greek agein "to lead, guide, drive, carry off," agon "assembly, contest in the games," agogos "leader;" Sanskrit ajati "drives," ajirah "moving, active;" Old Norse aka "to drive;" Middle Irish ag "battle").
Theatrical ("part of a play," 1510s) and legislative (early 15c.) senses of the word also were in Latin. Meaning "display of exaggerated behavior" is from 1928. In the act "in the process" is from 1590s, perhaps originally from the 16c. sense of the act as "sexual intercourse." Act of God "uncontrollable natural force" recorded by 1726.
An act of God is an accident which arises from a cause which operates without interference or aid from man (1 Pars. on Cont. 635); the loss arising wherefrom cannot be guarded against by the ordinary exertions of human skill and prudence so as to prevent its effect. [William Wait, "General Principles of the Law," Albany, 1879]

noun something done
noun legislative document
noun part of a performance
noun pretended behavior
verb do something
verb behave in a certain way
verb entertain by playing a role

Example sentences :

There are not many boys, or men, I think, that would have had the courage to act as you did.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

He was bold enough to brave the consequences of this act, which he foresaw clearly.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

On that which he fully believed, he must act, and what did he fully believe?
Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge

Within their own territory each one could act independently.
Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon

Their first act is to lower the duties on the importation of foreign cattle!
Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various

This act of justice has been unreasonably delayed in the case of some of them.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

And let there be no misunderstanding—we are going to begin to act, beginning today.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

To act up to our best judgments at the time, is all we can do.
Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson

When action is required to preserve our national security, we will act.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

This act of aggression produced a storm of public indignation.
Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook

Synonyms for act

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019