acting

1 of 2

noun

act·​ing ˈak-tiŋ 

: 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

Synonyms of acting

Adjective

• interim

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

Noun

The Vanstone fortune cannot be recouped until Magdalen finally develops a strong emotional intelligence—until her thinking and observation skills grow to match her acting skills, and then begin to work together. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Reese has been open about her desire to make an impact beyond sports by inspiring youth and establishing her brand in fashion, acting and more. — Jason Jones, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Adjective

PinkPantheress has locked in her first-ever acting role in a movie. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026

His first acting role was in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III (1990). — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 June 2026

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

• long-acting reversible contraception
• long-acting reversible contraceptive
• self-acting

Rhymes for acting

• abstracting
• attracting
• coacting
• compacting
• contacting
• detracting
• distracting
• enacting
• exacting
• extracting
• impacting
• reacting

Kids Definition

acting

adjective

act·​ing

ˈak-tiŋ

: serving temporarily or in place of another

acting president