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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 During the civil-rights era, he was seen by Black critics (including actor Ossie Davis) as being too submissive toward whites. 
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 Colman Domingo celebrates his outstanding guest actor in a drama series Emmy win for his role on Euphoria backstage at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 4. People Staff, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 For Metzger, daughter of actor Stéphane Metzger, there will be a before and an after Sasha. Trinidad Barleycorn, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 Adar is played by someone probably familiar to most fantasy TV fans: actor Joseph Mawle, who played Benjen Stark on Game of Thrones. Men's Health, 9 Sep. 2022 William remains popular, even as the British public has turned from his brother, who with his wife, U.S. actor Meghan Markle, has been critical of the royal family. Alistair Macdonald, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Euphoria star Angus Cloud, musician Kevin Abstract, artist Arthur Jafa, actor Chloë Sevigny, and model Bella Hadid were all present. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Larry Yando, the inimitably essential Chicago actor, looked very much that way at the opening night bows at the Drury Lane Theatre on Thursday night. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Lead actor is another tough one, and several candidates have a realistic shot. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 Colman Domingo celebrates his outstanding guest actor in a drama series Emmy win for his role on Euphoria backstage at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 4. People Staff, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 For Metzger, daughter of actor Stéphane Metzger, there will be a before and an after Sasha. Trinidad Barleycorn, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 Adar is played by someone probably familiar to most fantasy TV fans: actor Joseph Mawle, who played Benjen Stark on Game of Thrones. Men's Health, 9 Sep. 2022 William remains popular, even as the British public has turned from his brother, who with his wife, U.S. actor Meghan Markle, has been critical of the royal family. Alistair Macdonald, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Euphoria star Angus Cloud, musician Kevin Abstract, artist Arthur Jafa, actor Chloë Sevigny, and model Bella Hadid were all present. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Larry Yando, the inimitably essential Chicago actor, looked very much that way at the opening night bows at the Drury Lane Theatre on Thursday night. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Lead actor is another tough one, and several candidates have a realistic shot. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 9 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
actor
noun
ac·tor ˈak-tər
: a person who acts especially in a play or movie
actorish
adjective
as in actressy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- actressy
- theatrical
- hammy
- histrionic
- actorly
- dramatic
- theatric
- staged
- melodramatic
- studied
- stagey
- showy
- sensational
- overdone
- stagy
- overacted
- exaggerated
- conspicuous
- affected
- elaborate
- grandiose
- flamboyant
- ostentatious
- unnatural
- mannered
- pretentious
- artificial
- self-conscious
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unaffected
- toned (down)
- nontheatrical
- restrained
- conservative
- unpretentious
- subdued
- muted
- discreet
- undramatic
- inconspicuous
- plain
- underplayed
- nondramatic
- simple
- quiet
- modest