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
In recent weeks, we are told that Phillips has at points been acting up for Moore after Moore broke her ankle while skiing, and she is understood to have been dipping her toe into drama.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
This includes Isla having to do damage control when the team’s star acts up off the court, and dealing with an overbearing parent of a player.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Her pain can act up suddenly and seemingly comes without rhyme or reason.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 7 Mar. 2025
The hourlong descent appeared to go well until the final approach when the laser navigation system began acting up.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act up
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
This includes Isla having to do damage control when the team’s star acts up off the court, and dealing with an overbearing parent of a player.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Her pain can act up suddenly and seemingly comes without rhyme or reason.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 7 Mar. 2025
The hourlong descent appeared to go well until the final approach when the laser navigation system began acting up.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act up
Verb
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Travelers who act out drunk in public risk a fine up to €4,000 (around $4,300.64), the U.K. website states.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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The show opens with the filming of a Continental movie, with Paul Dano acting out a deadly fight scene while director Peter Berg looks on.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Customers who attended the events were among the first to pick up the new Model Y. Prior-generation Model Y inventory gets big price cuts up to $6,900 Some of the prior-generation Model Y on the inventory page are discounted between $3,000 and $7,000.—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Speaking as someone who is just as likely to slice up his fingers as cut a cucumber into thin, appetizing slices, a vegetable chopper can remove the work (and pain) that goes into cutting up vegetables, fruits and other foods.—
Ho Lin,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Joe Jonas‘ upcoming solo album is officially arriving on May 23, as revealed in an Instagram video the superstar shared on Wednesday (March 26) showing off the vinyl edition of the project.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2025
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So, grab your jerseys, caps, t-shirts and more to show off your team pride this year.—
Christopher Murray,
Fox News,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Elsewhere, two boys, Frank and Alain, get up to assorted mischief, sneaking onto a baseball diamond at night or horsing around on railroad tracks, although there are hints that Frank’s family may leave Cuba soon.—
Ben Kenigsberg,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
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In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After a federal judge ordered the government to respond to the accusation that CBP disobeyed a court order by deporting Alawieh, lawyers from the Justice Department denied the accusation the morning of March 17, court records show.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
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Her attorneys argue the government disobeyed the order.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Fast forward to today, and Jonathan is carrying on the family’s tradition of quality craftsmanship — but in an entirely different world and country, his family having moved to America in the late 1970s.—
Kyle J. Russell,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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Following the passing of Alabama bandmember Jeff Cook in November 2022, Owen and Gentry carry on Alabama’s mission of bringing the group’s music to fans.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Major stock indexes have erased their post-electoral gains, as investors rebel against the prospect of higher costs.—
Carlo Angerer,
NBC News,
13 Mar. 2025
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This is not the first time Kidman has played a woman rebelling against the gilded confines of her existence, so the actress delivers a reliably fine performance.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20up. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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