Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

▸  act out PHRASAL VERB If you act out an event which has happened, you copy the actions which took place and make them into a play. □ [V P n] I used to come home and act out the movie for the kids. [Also V n P ]

▸  act up

1 PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If something is acting up , it is not working properly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] She was messing with the coffee pot, which was acting up again.

2 PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If a child is acting up , they are behaving badly. [INFORMAL ]

act|ing /æ kt I ŋ/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Acting is the activity or profession of performing in plays or films. □  She pursued an acting career after four years of modelling.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use acting before the title of a job to indicate that someone is doing that job temporarily. □  …the new acting President.

ac|tion ◆◆◆ /æ kʃ ^ə n/ (actions , actioning , actioned )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Action is doing something for a particular purpose. □  The government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis.

2 N‑COUNT An action is something that you do on a particular occasion. □  Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.

3 N‑COUNT To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. [LEGAL ] □ [+ against ] Two leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.

4 N‑SING The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. [INFORMAL ] □  Hollywood is where the action is now.

5 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action . □  …a murderous war that would see millions die, as a result of direct military action. □  13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.

6 ADJ [ADJ n] An action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An action hero is the main character in one of these films.

7 VERB [usu passive] If you action something that needs to be done, you deal with it. [BUSINESS ] □ [be V -ed] Documents can be actioned, or filed immediately.

8 PHRASE If someone or something is out of action , they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used. □  He's been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury.

9 PHRASE If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action , they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.

10 PHRASE If you put an idea or policy into action , you begin to use it or cause it to operate. □  They have learned the lessons of business management theory, and put them into action. COLLOCATIONS action NOUN

1

adjective + action : appropriate, decisive, drastic; emergency, immediate, urgent; disciplinary, legal, military

verb + action : take; defend, justify, support; demand

3

verb + action : bring, initiate, launch, pursue; threaten SYNONYMS action NOUN

1

measure:He said stern measures would be taken against the killers

step:He greeted the agreement as the first step towards peace.

manoeuvre:…manoeuvres to block the electoral process.

2

deed:His heroic deeds were celebrated in every corner of India.

move:It may also be a good move to suggest she talks things over.

act:My insurance excludes acts of sabotage and damage done by weapons of war.

ac|tion|able /æ kʃənəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something that you do or say to someone is actionable , it gives them a valid reason for bringing a legal case against you.