follow vs act

follow is not a noun while act is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
follow	No	No	Yes	No
act	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, act is a hypernym of follow; that is, act is a word with a broader meaning than follow:

follow: accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
act: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Other hypernyms of follow include acquit, bear, behave, carry, comport, conduct, deport, do.

follow (noun)	act (noun)
	something that people do or cause to happen
	a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
	a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
	a short performance that is part of a longer program
	a manifestation of insincerity

follow (verb)	act (verb)
behave in accordance or in agreement with	behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
keep informed	pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
keep to	discharge one's duties
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something	play a role or part
grasp the meaning	perform on a stage or theater
imitate in behavior; take as a model	behave unnaturally or affectedly
perform an accompaniment to	perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
to travel behind, go after, come after	have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
travel along a certain course	be suitable for theatrical performance
follow in or as if in pursuit
keep under surveillance
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
to subscribe to someone's updates on social media
to be subscribed to updates from another user on social media
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
be the successor (of)
follow with the eyes or the mind
work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of
adhere to or practice
be later in time
come after in time, as a result
be next
to bring something about at a later time than
to be the product or result
come as a logical consequence; follow logically