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
The dual album nature of the tour – along with Grande's recent acting interlude – creates seemingly endless set list options. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026 Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro’s loyal deputy and the acting Vice-President at the time of his ouster, has stepped into the role of the country’s interim leader. Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Among them are last year’s acting winners, Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026 The show, cast with students in the UConn graduate and undergraduate acting programs, runs through Saturday at UConn’s Nafe Katter Theatre in Storrs. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Few sure things in the acting categories Whether those changes will have any effect on some of the night’s closest races remains to be seen. Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026 Servicing a mountainous areas like Escondido drives up costs, as an expensive network of pipes and pump stations is needed to move water up and down considerable inclines, said Kyle Morgan, the city’s acting director of utilities and wastewater. Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Dotseth, who was appointed interim chief in the summer of 2024, has been with the department for nearly 25 years, serving previously as a patrol officer, field training officer, patrol sergeant, internal affairs investigator and captain.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Emily Hunt, Thornton’s interim infrastructure director, says the concern lies not so much with the summer ahead but with the summers to follow, assuming precipitation stays meager.
    John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The two companies are set to unveil an entertainment universe based on Disney’s brands and characters later this year.
    Bloomberg, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Murray was playing his ninth game of the season after returning from a torn Achilles that kept him out for more than a year.
    Oc Register, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Almost 30 states ban trans athletes from playing in girls' and women's sports, according to the Movement Advancement Project.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This unique approach has made Alterre shoes especially popular with brides wanting something special for their big day as well as working women looking to maximize the cost-per-wear on office 'fits.
    Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
  • And then Miller shut the door with a scoreless ninth, working around a one-out walk to Julio Rodriguez, to send the United States back to the championship game.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The sequence exists in a liminal space between reality and hallucination, with the tube seeming to go on forever.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Players continue to arrive and leave, yet those characters of seeming permanence remain regardless of the speculation on their futures.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Eligible organizations include nonprofits or other groups with a record of serving the community, particularly those that serve Solana Beach residents.
    Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
  • On-site restaurant Wanu is intimate and cozy, serving a take on local Afro-fusion cuisine.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Marcus Figueroa was stabbed 25 times but survived after pretending to be dead until Ricks left the apartment.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
  • City Hall needs to stop pretending the job is getting done and just do it.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge set the wind-up-merchant ball rolling in the 60th minute, celebrating the evening’s only goal by mocking Atletico’s mascot with a cockerel celebration.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • And Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who wasn’t even a first round pick in several mock drafts in January, is now routinely being projected for the top 12, with longtime analyst Dane Brugler mocking him 11th to Miami in his draft this week for the Athletic.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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