actor

noun

ac·tor | \ ˈak-tər

How to pronounce actor (audio)

also -ˌtȯr \

Definition of actor

1 : one that acts : doer

2a : 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

Other Words from actor Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about actor

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Synonyms & Antonyms for actor

Synonyms

Antonyms

nonactor

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 The role earned Crawford an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in 1959, at only 13 years old. — Andrea Towers, EW.com, "Johnny Crawford, original Mouseketeer and Rifleman star, dies at 75," 30 Apr. 2021 The South Korean actor said it clearly for everyone watching and then noted how often it is mispronounced. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Youn Yuh-jung Knows How to Win," 26 Apr. 2021 The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton watch ($35,500), however, didn’t bring home the Oscar for best actor for Ahmed, who was nominated for his powerful performance in Sound of Metal. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, "From Riz Ahmed’s Girard-Perregaux to Daniel Kaluuya in Cartier: All the Best Watches at the Oscars," 26 Apr. 2021 Actor Joaquin Phoenix, who announced the award for best actor, was also a trending topic. — BostonGlobe.com, "‘La La Land’ 2.0? Chadwick Boseman loses posthumous Oscar, leaving many confused," 26 Apr. 2021 For nearly 20 years, the 25 nominees for best actor, actress, and director receive a commercial cornucopia of products and vouchers for exotic trips and services from brands hoping for some celebrity media exposure. — Anne Quito, Quartz, "There’s a Chadwick Boseman NFT card in the Oscar swag bag," 25 Apr. 2021 And also maybe it’s American hospitality for the Korean actor. — NBC News, "Oscars 2021: Chloé Zhao, 'Nomadland' make history at wobbly Academy Awards," 25 Apr. 2021 The awards ceremony marks the first time two actors of Asian descent were nominated for best actor, the first time an all-black producing team was nominated for best picture, and the first time two women were nominated for best director. — Carly Roman, Washington Examiner, "Los Angeles officials removed homeless from Union Station ahead of Oscars: Report," 25 Apr. 2021 Riz Ahmed, nominated for best actor in a leading role, trained in sign language and drumming for seven months before shooting began. — John Jurgensen, WSJ, "Should You Watch the 2021 Oscars? A Skeptic’s Guide," 21 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'actor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actor. Accessed 14 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for actor

actor

noun

English Language Learners Definition of actor

: a person who acts in a play, movie, etc.

See the full definition for actor in the English Language Learners Dictionary

actor

noun

ac·tor | \ ˈak-tər

\

Kids Definition of actor

: a person who acts especially in a play or movie

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