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
And the Oscar goes to ... Since 1929, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has honored one of filmmaking's most crucial elements: the acting. Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025 Johansen also successfully parlayed his skills into acting, appearing in experimental films like John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Up Your Legs Forever in the early '70s and making cameo appearances in TV series like Miami Vice and The Equalizer. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The movie was nominated for 10 awards at the ceremony, including Best Picture and acting nods for both Erivo and Grande. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2025 Trump has since replaced the then-chair of the FDIC, Martin Gruenberg, by promoting Vice Chair Travis Hill to head the agency on an acting basis. Maria Aspan, NPR, 27 Feb. 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 12 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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