Meaning & use
acted
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“acted” is a form of “act”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Did something, especially to deal with a situation or problem.
Grammar: No object; often followed by on or quickly: she acted on the advice.
Patterns
- act on something
- act quickly
The city acted quickly to repair the broken water pipe.
We acted on the doctor's advice and rested for a week.
If they had acted sooner, the damage would have been smaller.
verblinking
Behaved in a particular way, sometimes in a way that did not match how you really felt.
Grammar: Followed by an adjective or like: he acted strangely, she acted like a child.
Patterns
- act like someone
- act as if something
He acted as if nothing had happened at the party.
The puppy acted nervous around the new visitors.
She acted like she had never met him before.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Performed a role in a play, film or show.
Grammar: Can take a role as object or stand alone: she acted in three films, he acted the part of a king.
Patterns
- act in something
- act the part of someone
My grandfather acted in a local theater group for years.
She acted the lead role in the school musical.
The two brothers acted together in a TV comedy.
Word forms
| base form | act |
|---|---|
| third person singular | acts |
| -ing form | acting |
Common combinations
- acted on
- The police acted on a tip from a neighbor.
- acted as
- My cousin acted as our guide in Rome.
- acted strangely
- The dog acted strangely before the storm.
- acted in a film
- He acted in a film shot entirely in Iceland.
- acted quickly
- The nurse acted quickly and stopped the bleeding.
Synonyms and how they differ
- behaved
- Behaved focuses only on manner of conduct, while acted can also mean taking action or performing.
- performed
- Performed is broader for stage, music or dance, whereas acted is limited to playing characters.
- pretended
- Pretended always suggests faking something, while acted may be sincere.
- responded
- Responded implies reacting to something specific, whereas acted can be an independent initiative.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: acted or enacted?
acted vs enacted
Enacted usually means made into law or performed as a scene, as in the law was enacted. Acted is much more general.
Practice
The firefighters ___ quickly when they heard the alarm. Which word completes the sentence?
Choose one answer.
The sentence is in the past, so the past tense acted fits. Acts and act are present forms, and acting needs an auxiliary like were.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.