actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər 

 also  -ˌtȯr

1

: one that acts : doer

2

a

: one who acts in a play, movie, television show, etc.

b

: one who behaves as if acting a part

3

: one that takes part in any affair : participant

political actors

actorish

ˈak-tə-rish 

adjective

actorly

ˈak-tər-lē 

adjective

Synonyms

• actress
• performer
• entertainer
• thespian

Examples of actor in a Sentence

my sister went to drama school to become an actor

Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation.

Recent Examples on the Web

To be in the same room where Elvis played and to have actors on the same stage... —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025

In the decades since the original book series and feature films, Rowling has espoused her anti-trans rhetoric on social media, which has prompted even actors from the film series to speak out against the author. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025

As regional actors watch for the next move, Trump is set to meet Netanyahu at the White House. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

The estranged couple also shared sons Calvin and Luke, while the actor was father to sons Christian and Max from a previous relationship with Jeannine Bisignano. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actour "doer, pleader," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin āctor, from agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do" + -tor, agent suffix — more at agent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing actor

• bad actor
• character actor
• co-actor

Rhymes for actor

• acter
• factor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• contractor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor

Kids Definition

actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər 

: one that acts

especially : a person who acts especially in a play or movie or on television