Collocations for "acts"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "acts" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
act
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- act [as though, if, like]
- act like [a child, an adult, a fool, an idiot]
- act like nothing's wrong
- act as if nothing [has, had] happened
- act in accordance with [regulation, the law]
- act [in good faith, with malice, on behalf of]
- act [responsibly, rashly, quickly, inconsistently]
- we [must, need to] act [quickly, now]
- act without [thought to, consideration of]
- acting [for, on behalf of] his client
- acted to [protect, prevent, reduce, support, ensure, remove]
- act to [provide, amend, authorize, follow]
- acted against [her wishes, his will, their instructions]
- acting under [orders, the order of]
- acted under (extreme) [duress, stress]
- acted without [jurisdiction, authority]
- [would, should, could] have acted (sooner)
- the [court, police] acted
- failed to act [on, when]
- his [failure, refusal] to act
- act your age
- he (certainly) acts the part
- acted and [directed, produced, wrote]
- acted in [the movie, a TV show, a play]
- acted [beautifully, skillfully]
- act the [role, part] of
- acting opposite [him, a star]
- act out [the scene, a scene from]
- [son, girl, child, toddler] is acting out
- the [child, student] acted up
- acted up during [class, school, the performance]
- acted up at [school, home]
- [my phone, the printer, gallbladder] is acting up (again)
- [comedy, double, cabaret] act
- is a class act
- was caught in the act (of)
- puts on an act
- it's all an act
- an act of [heroism, love, bravery, aggression, peace]
- an act of sheer [cowardice, stupidity, folly]
- [seen, thought of] as an act of [aggression]
- considered (to be) an act of [aggression]
- an act of [Congress, the courts]
- [recorded, outlined, written] in act [5] (of)
- [in, by] the act of [1955]
- the [freedom, accountability, corporations] act
- the [play, show] has [three] acts
- a play in [three] acts (by)
- at the [end, beginning] of Act [2]
- is a hard act to follow
- am glad I don't have to follow that act
- the act [broke up, went their own ways, split up] in [1999]
'acts' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
act
- aloof
- animal
- backup
- catalyst
- certain
- classy
- complement
- comprise
- consultant
- criminal
- deceitful
- depressed
- despicable
- deterrent
- engage
- fake
- feminine
- fool
- forgiveness
- funnel
- gangster
- hipster
- hostile
- humble
- illegal
- insulation
- kindness
- lewd
- liaison
- mighty
- mimic
- nuance
- overt
- pimp
- politic
- porn
- queer
- reference
- safety
- shame
- signal
- sink
- solely
- superior
- theatre
- three
- trained
- violent
- watershed