acting
1 of 2noun
act·ing ˈak-tiŋ 
: the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras
acting
2 of 2adjective
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
Adjective
- ad interim
- interim
- provisional
- provisionary
- provisory
- temporary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 And the impeccable craftsmanship, keen intelligence and fine acting in each movie spoke for itself. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 This should be a positive step to further improve working conditions for prospects, something big league teams should have done years ago before they were shamed into acting by advocacy groups. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Boyega inherited his father’s flair for storytelling and was drawn to acting. Chris Kornelis, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 But the scheme this time was part of an FBI operation, with the intermediary acting under the agency’s direction. Allison Prang, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 While there were plenty of picture-perfect photos of the young royal smiling dutifully alongside her parents, there also emerged a slew of snaps that show her acting like, well, a normal child. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Aug. 2022 Fans of the iconic N.Y.C.-set comedy series will remember Phoebe acting as a surrogate mother for her brother Frank and his wife Alice in her character's storyline. Amanda Taylor, PEOPLE.com, 20 July 2022 No camp competition, no injury rehab, no graduate transfer out of the portal acting as a one-year rental, no questions. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 July 2022 Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Just as Hoss brings her skills as a violinist to the part, young cellist Sophie Kauer adds authenticity in her impressive first acting role as the rough-edged but preternaturally poised Olga. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Amsterdam is not the first acting role for the 11-time Grammy Award winner. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Since Cox nominated him in June, Ferry has been heading up DNR in an acting role and holding on to his seat in the Legislature. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 His willingness to venture back into that state, to conjure up his most painful memories for the sake of an acting role, was the quality that would most clearly define him as an artist. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Amsterdam is not the first acting role for the 11-time Grammy Award winner. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Even though that was his only acting experience, Dow was hired for Leave It to Beaver (as was Hugh Beaumont as his dad). Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 But the beginner in him is always looking for a new acting experience. Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2022 See More
Noun
Up for outstanding acting in a comedy series and outstanding writing for a comedy series, both for Abbott Elementary. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 And the impeccable craftsmanship, keen intelligence and fine acting in each movie spoke for itself. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 This should be a positive step to further improve working conditions for prospects, something big league teams should have done years ago before they were shamed into acting by advocacy groups. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Boyega inherited his father’s flair for storytelling and was drawn to acting. Chris Kornelis, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 But the scheme this time was part of an FBI operation, with the intermediary acting under the agency’s direction. Allison Prang, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 While there were plenty of picture-perfect photos of the young royal smiling dutifully alongside her parents, there also emerged a slew of snaps that show her acting like, well, a normal child. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Aug. 2022 Fans of the iconic N.Y.C.-set comedy series will remember Phoebe acting as a surrogate mother for her brother Frank and his wife Alice in her character's storyline. Amanda Taylor, PEOPLE.com, 20 July 2022 No camp competition, no injury rehab, no graduate transfer out of the portal acting as a one-year rental, no questions. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 July 2022 Adjective
Since July, Ferry has been leading the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an acting role. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Just as Hoss brings her skills as a violinist to the part, young cellist Sophie Kauer adds authenticity in her impressive first acting role as the rough-edged but preternaturally poised Olga. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Amsterdam is not the first acting role for the 11-time Grammy Award winner. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Since Cox nominated him in June, Ferry has been heading up DNR in an acting role and holding on to his seat in the Legislature. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 His willingness to venture back into that state, to conjure up his most painful memories for the sake of an acting role, was the quality that would most clearly define him as an artist. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Amsterdam is not the first acting role for the 11-time Grammy Award winner. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Even though that was his only acting experience, Dow was hired for Leave It to Beaver (as was Hugh Beaumont as his dad). Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 But the beginner in him is always looking for a new acting experience. Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing acting
Kids Definition
acting
adjective
act·ing ˈak-tiŋ
: serving for a short time only or in place of another
Teachers met with the acting principal.
acting 1 of 3
adjective
as in interim
serving in a position for the time being will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- interim
- proxy
- temporary
- alternate
- substitute
- provisional
- backup
- makeshift
- ad interim
- provisionary
- provisory
- stopgap
- make-do
- jackleg
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- long-term
acting
2 of 3noun
as in entertainment
Synonyms & Similar Words
- entertainment
- drama
- production
- footlights
- dramatics
- showbiz
- theatre
- theater
- show business
- theatricals
- boards
- stage
- theatrics
- presentation
- amusement
- show
- recreation
- spectacle
- diversion
- pageant
- pageantry
- distraction
- exhibition
acting
3 of 3verb
1
as in playing
to present a portrayal or performance of a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol Synonyms & Similar Words
- playing
- performing
- portraying
- interpreting
- doing
- depicting
- impersonating
- representing
- enacting
- dramatizing
- rendering
- overacting
- pantomiming
- playacting
- miming
- imitating
- mimicking
- acting out
- underplaying
- masquerading
- hamming
- clowning
- overplaying
- aping
- role-playing
- taking on
- coacting
- co-acting
- costarring
- co-starring
- posing (as)
- starring (in)
2
as in working
to produce a desired effect the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly Synonyms & Similar Words
- working
- performing
- operating
- reacting
- taking
- behaving
- responding
- affecting
- influencing
- taking effect
- resulting
- taking hold
- swaying
- redounding
- panning out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- backfiring
- fizzling
3
as in seeming
to give the impression of being always acting helpless, just to get attention Synonyms & Similar Words
- seeming
- looking
- feeling
- sounding
- appearing
- pretending
- making
- dissembling
- implying
- resembling
- suggesting
- coming off (as)
- coming across (as)
- hinting
- insinuating
- recalling
4
as in functioning
to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects Synonyms & Similar Words
- functioning
- serving
- working
- performing
- operating
- directing
- controlling
- managing
- regulating
- handling
- supervising
- guiding
- running
- administering
- overseeing
- carrying on
5
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it Synonyms & Similar Words
- pretending
- simulating
- assuming
- affecting
- shamming
- feigning
- dissembling
- faking
- posing
- professing
- bluffing
- playing
- forging
- imitating
- counterfeiting
- making believe
- concealing
- masquerading
- dissimulating
- playacting
- impersonating
- putting on
- camouflaging
- masking
- disguising
- passing (for)
- feinting
- letting on
- malingering
6
as in imitating
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention Synonyms & Similar Words
- playing
- imitating
- mocking
- portraying
- impersonating
- personating
- miming
- mimicking
- performing
- copying
- parodying
- travestying
- aping
- monkeying
- masquerading (as)
- posing (as)