acting

1 of 2

noun

act·​ing ˈak-tiŋ How to pronounce acting (audio)
: the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras

acting

2 of 2

adjective

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

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
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.
Noun
All of this has happened under the helm of Leland Dudek, a former data-analyst at the agency who was promoted to acting commissioner while the confirmation of Trump nominee Frank Bisignano, a financial services executive, progresses in Congress. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Lead acting roles reached parity, however, with 51 films starring women. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Below is a full list of all the men and women who have won an acting Academy Award for a lead or supporting role before the age of 30. TIME, 3 Mar. 2025 Its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Oscar — and in the lead actress category, at that. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acting

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from gerund of act entry 2

Adjective

from present participle of act entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acting was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acting. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

acting

adjective
act·​ing
ˈak-tiŋ
: serving temporarily or in place of another
acting president

More from Merriam-Webster on acting

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