acting 1 of 3

Definition of actingnext
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

acting

2 of 3

noun

acting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of act
1
2
3
4
as in serving
to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in mocking
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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of acting
Adjective
Award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti adapted O’Farrell’s Women’s Prize for Fiction winner for the stage, with direction by Erica Whyman, former acting artistic director of the RSC. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026 Storrie’s separate interview was the angel on the shoulder opposite of the cheeky devil Williams represented, revealing more about his pre-acting background. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
With a best actress win at Cannes in 2014, Moore became the first American woman to receive top acting honors at the Berlin, Venice and Cannes film festivals, cementing her status as one of the most respected performers of her generation. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 Inflation persists 100 days into Delcy Rodriguez’s government More than 100 days have now passed since Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president. Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s real-life nephew, stars as Michael Jackson in his acting debut, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long portraying parents, Joe and Katherine. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche are escorted out as dinner attendees continue to take cover under their tables. Charles Forelle, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Just look at previous interim head coaches Guus Hiddink (2009), Roberto Di Matteo (2012), and Rafael Benitez (2013).
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Double-A manager Chad Epperson will take over as interim third base coach and WooSox hitting coach Collin Hetzler has been elevated to the big league staff, but beyond that Breslow said more additions will be made and that Tracy will have a voice in assembling his new staff.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The bottom line Country Club Plaza remains Kansas City’s signature shopping and dining district, offering architecture, culture and entertainment just minutes from World Cup matches.
    Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Sudarma hopes that guests will plan a day and stay, enjoying multiple meals and lots of entertainment, from Asian sports cars to kids’ hip hop dance classes (free).
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As the Ado Annie-like Betsy, a horny teen-ager whose father owns a shotgun, Kurtz is playing a character who should be, and kind of is, a one-joke punch line.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Twin sisters Jordan and Jaedyn Gomez, playing for Boone, lost their second round individual bracket doubles match 6-0, 6-0 against Doral Academy’s top seeded duo of Payton Seidle-Lubowitz and Stefany Zamora.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The National Conflict Resolution Center has hosted this event for 38 years now, to recognize individuals and organizations working with passion and purpose toward a better future for all Americans.
    Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Clear, kind boundaries keep things working.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Influencer culture has always been about commodifying intimacy—and, at a certain point, authenticity stopped seeming to really matter to people.
    T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Each painting has a luminous quality to it, with figures and textiles seeming to glow from within.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • According to Caltrans, 19th Avenue is one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, carrying roughly 40,000 vehicles each day and serving as a major route to destinations such as San Francisco State University, Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced and Stonestown Shopping Center.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • In addition to the $4 million public space investment, Legacy Foundation will add $1 million to expand Transform Lake County and Resilience grantmaking through 2027 to support the growth and stability of nonprofit organizations serving Lake County.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.
    Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
  • At this point, the NFL is not even pretending the draft is about the handful of prospects sitting in the green room.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Punk then resorted to mocking Reigns.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
  • In non-CinemaCon news, the looksmaxx influencer managed to unite the internets in mocking his dew-eyed meltdown and interview walk-off over being asked modestly difficult questions about his reputation (instead of being asked, say, which moisturizer is best for post-jaw hammering).
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on acting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster