Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb act_as

2 senses of act as

Sense 1
act as -- (function as or act like; "This heap of stones will act as a barrier")
       => serve, function -- (serve a purpose, role, or function; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk")

Sense 2
act, play, act as -- (pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad")
       => act, behave, do -- (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people")