actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər 

 also  -ˌtȯr

1

: one that acts : doer

2

a

: one who acts in a play, movie, television show, etc.

b

: one who behaves as if acting a part

3

: one that takes part in any affair : participant

political actors

actorish

ˈak-tə-rish 

adjective

actorly

ˈak-tər-lē 

adjective

Synonyms

• impersonator
• mummer
• player
• thesp
• thespian
• trouper

Examples of actor in a Sentence

my sister went to drama school to become an actor

Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation.

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, the FBI has warned cities and police agencies about foreign actors potentially trying to influence politics. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024

Indeed, the actor was born in 1994 and is part of a generation called the ceasefire babies. —Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

Her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, the outspoken actor highly regarded as one of the industry's fiercest defenders of women. —Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024

In 2022, Culkin got engaged to fellow child actor Brenda Song of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. —Lydia Price, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actour "doer, pleader," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin āctor, from agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do" + -tor, agent suffix — more at agent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing actor

• bad actor
• character actor
• co-actor

Kids Definition

actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər 

: one that acts

especially : a person who acts especially in a play or movie or on television