act
To perform a deed or take action; to behave in a specified way; to perform in a play or movie. As a noun, it signifies a deed, a law passed by a legislature, a section of a theatrical performance, or various initialisms like ACT (American College Test).
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Root: agere (to do, to drive) — "to do, drive, perform"
Example
"She decided to act on her instincts during the final act of the play, as the senator promised to act swiftly on the climate bill."
Usage Notes
Act serves as both a verb and a noun across various contexts. As a verb, it denotes performing or behaving ('act quickly,' 'act natural'). As a noun, it can mean a legal decree ('an act of Congress'), a part of a play ('first act'), an exhibition of behavior ('a thoughtless act'), or stand for an acronym. It's important not to confuse temporary behavior ('act') with the process of doing ('action'). Works in all registers from casual to formal.