(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~, you do something for a particular purpose.
The deaths occurred when police ~ed to stop widespread looting and vandalism...
I do not doubt that the bank ~ed properly.
VERB: V, V adv/prep
2.
If you ~ on advice or information, you do what has been advised or suggested.
A patient will usually listen to the doctor’s advice and ~ on it.
VERB: V on/upon n
3.
If someone ~s in a particular way, they behave in that way.
...a gang of youths who were ~ing suspiciously...
He ~ed as if he hadn’t heard any of it...
Open wounds ~ like a magnet to flies.
= behave
VERB: V adv, V as if, V like n
4.
If someone or something ~s as a particular thing, they have that role or function.
He ~ed both as the ship’s surgeon and as chaplain for the men.
VERB: V as/like n
5.
If someone ~s in a particular way, they pretend to be something that they are not.
Chris ~ed astonished as he examined the note...
Kenworthy had tried not to ~ the policeman.
VERB: V adj, V n
6.
When professionals such as lawyers ~ for you, or ~ on your behalf, they are employed by you to deal with a particular matter.
...the law firm that ~ed for Diana during her marriage split...
Because we travelled so much, Sam and I asked a broker to ~ on our behalf.
VERB: V for n, V prep
7.
If a force or substance ~s on someone or something, it has a certain effect on them.
He’s taking a dangerous drug: it ~s very fast on the central nervous system...
VERB: V on/upon n
8.
If you ~, or ~ a part in a play or film, you have a part in it.
She confessed to her parents her desire to ~...
She ~ed in her first film when she was 13 years old.
VERB: V, V in n
9.
An ~ is a single thing that someone does. (FORMAL)
Language interpretation is the whole point of the ~ of reading...
N-COUNT: oft N of n
10.
If you say that someone’s behaviour is an ~, you mean that it does not express their real feelings.
His anger was real. It wasn’t an ~.
= pretence
N-SING
11.
An Act is a law passed by the government.
...an Act of Parliament.
N-COUNT
12.
An ~ in a play, opera, or ballet is one of the main parts into which it is divided.
Act II contained one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed...
N-COUNT: oft N num
13.
An ~ in a show is a short performance which is one of several in the show.
This year numerous bands are playing, as well as comedy ~s...
N-COUNT
14.
If you catch someone in the ~, you discover them doing something wrong or committing a crime.
The men were caught in the ~ of digging up buried explosives.
PHRASE: V inflects
15.
If someone who has been behaving badly cleans up their ~, they start to behave in a more acceptable or responsible way. (INFORMAL)
The nation’s advertisers need to clean up their ~.
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
If you get in on the ~, you take part in or take advantage of something that was started by someone else. (INFORMAL)
In the 1970s Kodak, anxious to get in on the ~, launched its own instant camera.
PHRASE: V inflects
17.
You say that someone was in the ~ of doing something to indicate what they were doing when they were seen or interrupted.
Ken was in the ~ of paying his bill when Neil came up behind him.
PHRASE: v-link PHR -ing
18.
If you get your ~ together, you organize your life or your affairs so that you are able to achieve what you want or to deal with something effectively. (INFORMAL)
The Government should get its ~ together...
PHRASE: V inflects
19.
to ~ one’s age: see age
to ~ the fool: see fool