act as
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive or intransitive):
- To function in the capacity of; to serve as. This meaning describes something or someone performing the role, duties, or function of something else, often temporarily or in a specific context.
- To pretend to be; to behave in a manner characteristic of. This meaning describes consciously adopting a specific quality, emotion, or state of mind, often for a purpose.
Usage Examples
Functioning as something:
- During the emergency, the senior nurse had to act as the head of the department.
- A thick book can act as a paperweight.
- This committee will act as an advisory board for the project.
Pretending to have a quality:
- He acted as if he knew nothing about the surprise party.
- She often acts as the expert, even when she's unsure.
- You don't have to act as the tough guy all the time.
Advanced Usage
"act as a go-between": to serve as an intermediary or messenger between two parties.
- My colleague acted as a go-between during the sensitive negotiations.
"act as a catalyst": to serve as the agent that precipitates a process or event.
- The scandal acted as a catalyst for major political reform.
Variants and Related Words
- Act (verb): To perform a role; to behave in a specified way.
- He will act in the new film.
- Serve as (verb phrase): A close synonym for the "function as" meaning of "act as".
- This room serves as our office.
Synonyms
- Function as: To operate or work as.
- Serve as: To perform the duties of.
- Pose as: To pretend to be (often with deceptive intent).
- Feign: To pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions
- Act up: To misbehave or function improperly.
- The old computer started to act up again.
- Act on/upon: To take action as a result of something.
- The police must act on the information they receive.
- Act out: To express emotions or conflicts through behavior, often unconsciously; to perform a scene or story.
- Children sometimes act out when they are tired.
Related Idioms
- Act one's age: To behave in a manner appropriate to one's maturity level.
- He's thirty but still doesn't act his age.
- Act the fool / act the part: To behave foolishly or to behave in a way that fits a particular role.
- Stop acting the fool and be serious for a moment.
Verb
- pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
- He acted the idiot
- She plays deaf when the news are bad
- function as or act like
- This heap of stones will act as a barrier