Synonyms of acting

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

• interim
• temporary
• provisional
• proxy
• ad interim
• alternate
• makeshift
• backup
• substitute
• provisionary
• provisory
• stopgap
• make-do
• jackleg

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permanent
• long-term

acting

2 of 3

noun

as in theatre

Synonyms & Similar Words

• theatre
• entertainment
• footlights
• boards
• drama
• production
• show business
• theater
• showbiz
• dramatics
• amusement
• stage
• presentation
• theatricals
• theatrics
• diversion
• spectacle
• recreation
• show
• exhibition
• pageant
• distraction
• pageantry

acting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of act

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
• pantomiming
• overacting
• playacting
• imitating
• role-playing
• miming
• mimicking
• acting out
• underplaying
• masquerading
• overplaying
• clowning
• hamming
• aping
• taking on
• posing (as)
• roleplaying
• coacting
• co-acting
• costarring
• starring (in)
• co-starring

2

as in working

to produce a desired effect

the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• working
• performing
• operating
• reacting
• taking
• responding
• behaving
• taking effect
• resulting
• affecting
• taking hold
• influencing
• 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
• making
• pretending
• coming off (as)
• coming across (as)
• resembling
• implying
• suggesting
• recalling
• dissembling
• hinting
• insinuating

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

• serving
• functioning
• working
• performing
• operating
• controlling
• directing
• managing
• regulating
• handling
• guiding
• running
• supervising
• administering
• carrying on
• overseeing

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
• feigning
• passing (for)
• professing
• faking
• dissembling
• bluffing
• posing
• shamming
• playing
• forging
• counterfeiting
• concealing
• imitating
• putting on
• masquerading
• making believe
• impersonating
• masking
• camouflaging
• disguising
• playacting
• dissimulating
• letting on
• malingering
• feinting

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

• playing
• mocking
• imitating
• portraying
• impersonating
• personating
• posing (as)
• masquerading (as)
• miming
• mimicking
• copying
• parodying
• performing
• aping
• monkeying
• travestying

Examples of acting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His final acting role was playing Professor Proton (whose real name was Arthur Jeffries) on The Big Bang Theory and its prequel spinoff, Young Sheldon, on nine episodes of television between 2013 and 2020. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 19 July 2024

Carol Burnett has become the oldest female nominated for an acting Emmy Award at the age of 91. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 July 2024

Noun

The West Wing was an Emmys juggernaut during its eight-year run on NBC, racking up a staggering 95 total nominations and 26 wins, including acting awards for Janney, Schiff, writing for Sorkin, and Outstanding Drama many times over. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2024

Brunson, Williams, Ralph and Janelle James were also nominated individually for acting awards. —Maggie Clancy, WWD, 15 Sep. 2024