Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [akt on, awn]
- /ækt ɒn, ɔn/
- /ækt ɒn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [akt on, awn]
- /ækt ɒn, ɔn/
Definitions of act on words
- verb act on to regulate one's behaviour in accordance with (advice, information, etc) 3
- verb act on to have an effect on (illness, a part of the body, etc) 3
- noun act on anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act. 1
- noun act on the process of doing: caught in the act. 1
- noun act on a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award: an act of Congress. 1
- noun act on an instrument or document stating something done or transacted. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of act on
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English act(e) (< Middle French) < Latin ācta, plural of āctum something done, noun use of past participle of agere to do (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly < Latin āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Act on
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
act on popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
act on usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for act on
verb act on
- pursue — to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).
- follow — to come after in sequence, order of time, etc.: The speech follows the dinner.
- motivate — to provide with a motive, or a cause or reason to act; incite; impel.
- act upon — anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.