act

act — 動詞

1. to do things in a certain way, showing a particular kind of behaviour.

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

表現

做出某種樣子

to do things in a certain way, showing a particular kind of behaviour.

例句

The children acted well while their grandparents were visiting for dinner.

孩子們在祖父母來吃晚餐時表現得很好。

act + adverb for behaviour

At the interview, Mina acted calm even though her hands were shaking.

面試時，Mina 表現得很鎮定，雖然雙手一直在發抖。

act + adjective

同義詞

文法句型

act + adjective

act like + noun

用法筆記

Often followed by an adjective or by 'like + noun' to show the kind of behaviour. Distinguish from sense 5, which usually suggests annoying or foolish behaviour.

常見錯誤

❌Mina acted as calm in the interview.
✅Mina acted calm in the interview.
💡after 'act' for behaviour, use the adjective directly, not 'as'.

2. to take steps instead of waiting, usually to achieve something or handle a probl

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

採取行動

出手處理問題

to take steps instead of waiting, usually to achieve something or handle a problem.

例句

The town acted fast after the river rose above the bridge.

河水漲過橋面後，小鎮很快就採取行動了。

act + adverb

Seeing smoke in the kitchen, Rosa acted to keep the children outside.

看到廚房冒煙時，Rosa 立刻採取行動，把孩子留在外面。

act to + verb

同義詞
  • move

    slightly less formal and often faster in tone

  • respond

    stresses answering a situation rather than starting something new

  • intervene

    suggests stepping in to change events

反義詞
  • wait

    to delay instead of doing something

  • hesitate

    to be slow because you are unsure

文法句型

act to + verb

act on + report / advice / information

用法筆記

This sense focuses on doing something practical. Common with adverbs like 'quickly' and with patterns such as 'act to...' or 'act on...'.

常見錯誤

❌We acted the problem immediately.
✅We acted to solve the problem immediately.
💡this sense does not take the problem as a direct object.

3. to start producing a result, especially in the body or on a material.

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

奏效

開始產生效果

to start producing a result, especially in the body or on a material.

例句

The cream acted within minutes and the baby's rash began to fade.

藥膏幾分鐘內就奏效了，嬰兒的紅疹開始變淡。

act within + time

The medicine acted slowly, so Mr. Lin stayed in bed all morning.

藥效發揮得很慢，所以林先生整個早上都躺在床上。

act + adverb with medicine subject

同義詞
  • work

    the most common everyday alternative

  • take effect

    often used for medicine, rules, and plans

反義詞
  • fail

    to produce no result

文法句型

act on + body part / material

act within + time

用法筆記

The subject is often something that causes change, such as a drug, heat, pressure, or a policy. Do not confuse this with sense 6, where something acts as another thing.

常見錯誤

❌The cream acted to my skin in seconds.
✅The cream acted on my skin in seconds.
💡use 'on' for the thing affected.

4. to appear as a character before an audience or camera.

4.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

演出

在戲劇或影片中扮演角色

to appear as a character before an audience or camera.

例句

Ken acted the doctor in our school play last Friday.

Ken 上週五在校園話劇裡演出了醫生這個角色。

act + role noun

In the film, Sara acted opposite a famous singer from Seoul.

在那部電影裡，Sara 與一位來自首爾的知名歌手同台演出。

act opposite + performer

同義詞
  • perform

    broader; also used for music and dance

  • play

    common when naming the character directly

文法句型

act in + play / film

act + role noun

用法筆記

Often followed by 'in' for the production, or by a role noun in more formal stage language. This is the only verb sense tied to theatre and film performance.

常見錯誤

❌Sara acted at the film.
✅Sara acted in the film.
💡use 'in' for the production.

5. to make yourself look foolish, annoying, or unnatural, often to get attention.

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

胡鬧；裝樣

舉止誇張又惹人煩

to make yourself look foolish, annoying, or unnatural, often to get attention.

例句

Stop acting silly and put your shoes back on.

別再胡鬧了，把鞋子穿回去。

act + adjective in commands

At lunch, Dylan acted like a boss and ordered everyone around.

吃午餐時，Dylan 裝得像老闆一樣，對大家發號施令。

act like + noun

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

act silly / cool / superior

act like + noun

用法筆記

Common in spoken English when criticizing someone's manner. It often suggests that the behaviour is not natural or not suitable for the situation.

常見錯誤

❌Stop to act silly.
✅Stop acting silly.
💡after 'stop' for ending a behaviour, use the -ing form.

6. to do the job of something, or be used in its place.

6.動詞不及物B2
釋義

充當

暫時擔任某用途

to do the job of something, or be used in its place.

例句

For one week, the spare room acted as a home office.

有一週時間，那間備用房充當了居家辦公室。

act as + role

In the emergency, Lena acted as team leader until noon.

在緊急情況下，Lena 一直充當隊長直到中午。

act as + temporary job

同義詞
  • serve as

    the closest neutral equivalent

  • function as

    slightly more formal and common in technical writing

文法句型

act as + role

act as + substitute object

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'as + noun'. The subject may be a person, room, object, or system that fills a role for a time.

常見錯誤

❌This box acts a table.
✅This box acts as a table.
💡this sense needs 'as' before the role or substitute.

act — 名詞