acting 1 of 3

Definition of actingnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

acting

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noun

acting

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verb

present participle of act
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as in serving
to have a certain purpose the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects

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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

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of acting
Adjective
Her most notable acting role was on The Bold and the Beautiful. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Johnson pushed back against Pulte's critics -- arguing that the president has the prerogative to choose his Cabinet while stressing that the president told reporters that Pulte would serve on an acting basis -- up to 210 days without Senate confirmation. ABC News, 8 June 2026
Noun
In both The Odyssey and the Dune movies, her spark has been sacrificed to the gods of serious acting, and not for the better. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 July 2026 The daughter of Newton and director Ol Parker, the younger Parker wasted no time starting her acting career. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Verb
Hylands, who grew up in southwest British Columbia, discovered his passion for acting while studying at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Democrats say Blanche’s order doesn’t go far enough to prevent the administration from reviving plans for the fund after the acting attorney general’s confirmation and have called for legislation to permanently bar it. ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Two weeks after Kowalski's retirement, interim Police Chief Ken Myers demoted everyone involved.
    Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Graham is serving in an interim role to fulfill her brother's current term.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • For those involved with Powell Gardens, however, the anniversary was about more than adding new entertainment.
    Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The 201-room property has evolved into a destination for elevated dining, craft cocktails and live entertainment.
    Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Even with their side trip to Utah, Memphis had four of the top seven players in minutes in Vegas, helped by playing a sixth game in the championship.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Only the two teams that make the championship game playing a sixth game, but the Heat is likely out of the mix for the championship game with two losses in Las Vegas.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Driving his son’s final path himself, Urrutia was convinced that if the wrong-way detectors had been working that night, his son would still be alive.
    Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Qiu was known for research working with a cutting-edge technique known as base editing to make custom treatments for children with rare diseases.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Either way, Wanda comes out on top, her seeming death notwithstanding.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yet my party of work friends lingered, seeming to savor the change of venue.
    Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The Carrollton native was 19 when she was killed in an Iranian missile attack while serving in Jordan.
    Erin Jones, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • His potential start could signal a major shakeup, possibly serving as a showcase for other teams ahead of the deadline, rather than the Phillies suddenly viewing him as their immediate answer for the rotation.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Communicating once and pretending people are not having reactions and doubts is unhelpful.
    Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Maybe the most ethical – and enjoyable – way to travel now is to stop pretending you live there and embrace your status as a tourist.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • On the scale of poking the bear, mocking Buc-ees in defense of other regional convenience store chains is low risk.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • In response to angry, sometimes mocking, questions from Republican senators, Fauci declined to answer more than 100 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic.
    Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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