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

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

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