: 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
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
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
The strategist said that was especially important in the case of Gascón, who, as the first openly trans person nominated for an acting Oscar, had a target on her back.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acting
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
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
Following Gascón’s historic nomination as the first openly trans person up for an acting Oscar, the actress has been plagued with controversy around previous racist tweets.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
The strategist said that was especially important in the case of Gascón, who, as the first openly trans person nominated for an acting Oscar, had a target on her back.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acting
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acting. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share