in the act (of doing something)

idiom

: in the process of doing something
When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner.

Examples of in the act (of doing something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to a new paper published in the Journal of Ethology, California ground squirrels have been caught in the act—many times over—of chasing, killing, and eating voles. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2024 Flag catches him in the act, and a fierce battle ensues. Hayden Mears, TVLine, 5 Dec. 2024 Aziza is interested in finding meaning and even purpose in the act of witnessing horror. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 11 Dec. 2024 The initial call was that Maye had fumbled in the act of throwing, the ball being recovered by the Dolphins’ Zach Sieler. Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for in the act (of doing something) 

Dictionary Entries Near in the act (of doing something)

Cite this Entry

“In the act (of doing something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20act%20%28of%20doing%20something%29. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!