1
as in to act out
to behave badly
the two-year-old was acting up in church so much that her dad had to take her outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cut up
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
you should have seen the boys acting up when they put on their aprons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act up
For the first time, Tindall had to act up without his partner over these past two weeks, with Graeme Jones, his fellow assistant, deputising alongside him.
—
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Clarke Schmidt’s back acted up, and then his shoulder.
—Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Mount Spurr, located about 75 miles West of Anchorage, has been acting up in recent weeks, prompting officials at the U.S. Geological Survey and Alaska Volcano Observatory to issue a yellow alert.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act up
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Clarke Schmidt’s back acted up, and then his shoulder.
—Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Mount Spurr, located about 75 miles West of Anchorage, has been acting up in recent weeks, prompting officials at the U.S. Geological Survey and Alaska Volcano Observatory to issue a yellow alert.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act up
Verb
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Restless legs syndrome, a condition characterized by an urge to move the legs, is common in Parkinson's disease, as is REM sleep disorder, a condition in which people act out their dreams while sleeping.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
28 July 2025
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Emerging research suggests that acting out dreams might also predict Parkinson’s disease.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
22 July 2025
Verb
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And in order to maintain a nutritious balance to each of these meals, consider adding cut up vegetables (like celery or carrots) or fruit (strawberries or blueberries are easy options) to the plate.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
15 July 2025
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The information sector, including tech, is a major drag, with job cuts up 27% in the first half compared to the previous year.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Verb
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World of Words, the brand-new exhibition at the Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies, shows off the origins of Norse mythology to the public for the first time in over a decade.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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At one point in the video, the camera pans closer to Hayek Pinault to show off the assortment of gold chains across her body.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Running or horsing around with sparklers can also cause injuries and burns when users trip and fall.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 July 2025
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Umberto Rispoli squeezed between horses around the top of the stretch and then rode Journalism to a tremendous rally.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Boasberg previously found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying his order to immediately halt deportations.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
28 July 2025
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Jessica Leslie agreed to plead guilty to a charge of criminal contempt that accused her of willfully disobeying court rules against disclosure of grand jury information.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
Verb
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But more so just to get that first one done, so that the progression can carry on, that’s the most exciting thing.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
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In the years since her death, Winehouse's legacy has been carried on through documentaries, a biography, a foundation and, most recently, a biopic.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Kim was born to a wealthy Korean family in 1913, but rebelled against his father and chose to study art in Japan.—
Thessaly La Force,
Travel + Leisure,
4 July 2025
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Nelson and Jennings rebelled at Nashville's music restrictions, sparking the outlaw country movement.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20up. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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