actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər How to pronounce actor (audio)
 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 adjective
actorly adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the actor has mostly maintained a cordial relationship with all his exes. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025 On October 25, the 28-year-old actor unveiled a completely fresh look on the Christy premiere red carpet, starting with a chin-length chop by celebrity hairstylist Glen Coco Oropeza. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2025 The show is directed and choreographed by Joey Dippel and features a cast of 26 actors and one adorable pup. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025 Perry’s new romance comes a few months after her split from actor Orlando Bloom in early July. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for actor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of actor was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actor. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

actor

noun
ac·​tor ˈak-tər How to pronounce actor (audio)
: one that acts
especially : a person who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

More from Merriam-Webster on actor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!