as in interim
serving in a position for the time being
will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in entertainment
Related Words
1
as in playing
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in working
to produce a desired effect
the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seeming
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in serving
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in mocking
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acting
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Storrie’s separate interview was the angel on the shoulder opposite of the cheeky devil Williams represented, revealing more about his pre-acting background.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Even leaveners can be problematic—using single-acting baking powder instead of double-acting can lead to excess spread.
—Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
And joining me now is acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
—NBC news, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for acting
Adjective
Award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti adapted O’Farrell’s Women’s Prize for Fiction winner for the stage, with direction by Erica Whyman, former acting artistic director of the RSC.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Storrie’s separate interview was the angel on the shoulder opposite of the cheeky devil Williams represented, revealing more about his pre-acting background.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
News, which took place at the Beverage Forum in Manhattan Beach, California, Somerhalder reflected on the differences between his acting and business careers.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Even leaveners can be problematic—using single-acting baking powder instead of double-acting can lead to excess spread.
—Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Adefope has a long list of acting credits.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
And joining me now is acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
—NBC news, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
-
The chancellor released interim guidance last month, with a full policy due in June.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
That delay gave the regents board an excuse last November to extend Maduko’s contract as interim chancellor until June 30, 2027.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
In addition to founding CNN, the first 24-hour cable news network, Turner launched multiple TV and entertainment brands -- including Cartoon Network, TNT and Turner Classic Movies.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
-
The company’s entertainment streaming operation posted an 88% leap in operating income, reaching $582 million.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments!—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Paul and Barlow spent several minutes in the second half playing in the frontcourt, giving Nurse options to switch seamlessly while playing small when other Sixers bigs dealt with foul trouble.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Adjust the plan, and let that flexibility keep everything working without losing your own direction or sense of independence in the process.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Onscreen, the seduction was working.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The Crash, directed by Gareth Johnson, unpeels that evening, early morning and proceeding trial as if viewers were in the town of Strongsville, Ohio, hearing about the seeming accident, mourning two young men and then, over time, feeling the creep of suspicion against Shirilla.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The indictment presents a detailed and devastating narrative of how, for years, officials in Sinaloa have allegedly worked hand in hand with mobsters, enriching themselves and allowing the gang to operate with seeming impunity.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giuliani was elected New York’s mayor in 1993 after serving as one of the nation’s highest-profile prosecutors, taking on mobsters and crooked Wall Street traders.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Church threw himself into public life, serving as a parks commissioner in New York and helping to found the Metropolitan Museum of Art.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Online adult platforms are being severely restricted these days as new laws banning materials involving adults pretending to be under 18 are put into place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 May 2026
-
Other highlights from the show included a sketch where Rodrigo and Ben Marshall played a pair of exes pretending to be in new relationships, as well as the latest edition of a recurring sketch about Shop TV hosts selling a product that looks very inappropriate.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
One side feels mocking people and calling names is OK and not creating hate.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
The entertainer gained notoriety on social media in the late 2010s for his sketches mocking niche everyday scenarios.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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