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 of actor

• 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

In July, Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams was spotted in Seoul wearing a pair of calf-length white shorts from Descalco, a new swimwear brand that launches this week. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026

Despite her openness about those trials, many still wonder, in the aftermath of her death, how yet another gifted actor who grew up in the limelight could have their story cut so short. — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Without a team behind him, the burden of seeking out the few roles available to disabled actors falls on him alone. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Then there’s Jonathan Safran Foer, whose 20-teens-era friendship with the actor has long been the subject of rumor and speculation; a T Magazine story reprinting their emails only raised more questions. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

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
• Method 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