: the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras
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
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Though nothing is set in stone, as the singer continues to further her acting career, there’s been talk of second feature ideas along with Brandes.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for acting
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Noun
Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning (Breaking Baz’s words on her are over here), and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas also received acting nominations.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Though nothing is set in stone, as the singer continues to further her acting career, there’s been talk of second feature ideas along with Brandes.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for acting
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acting. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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