: the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras
1
: holding a temporary rank or position : performing services temporarily
acting president
2
a
: suitable for stage performance
an acting play
b
: prepared with directions for actors
an acting text of a play
Synonyms
Examples of acting in a Sentence
Noun
Her acting is unusually good in this film.
a new style of acting
Adjective
The college's acting president will be replaced with a permanent one next fall.
will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found
Recent Examples on the Web
Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down after refusing to provide Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with access to sensitive information, according to multiple reports.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
Duhamel's first acting role was charming con artist Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime soap All My Children (1999–2002), which landed him a Daytime Emmy.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for acting 
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Noun
President Donald Trump replaced King as acting commissioner with Leland Dudek, who has led Social Security's anti-fraud office, according to the Washington Post, which first reported King's exit.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down after refusing to provide Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with access to sensitive information, according to multiple reports.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been made acting administrator of USAID, multiple sources tell ABC News.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
Duhamel's first acting role was charming con artist Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime soap All My Children (1999–2002), which landed him a Daytime Emmy.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for acting
Dictionary Entries Near acting
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acting. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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