acting 1 of 3

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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acting

2 of 3

noun

acting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of act
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2
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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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5
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

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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
Tom Cruise had first connected Hamilton with director Joseph Kosinski because Hamilton was interested in an acting role in Top Gun: Maverick. Sean Gregory / London and Maranello, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 Insiders confirmed to Variety on Monday that the 52-year-old Spanish actress — who made history last month as the first openly transgender performer nominated for an acting Oscar — will attend this Sunday’s 97th Academy Awards. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
However, according to the SSA acting commissioner, major cost reductions will result from a hiring freeze and overtime reductions. Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2025 The only major acting award organization to make its categories gender neutral is the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 6 May 2025
Verb
Former acting Labor Secretary Julie Su will serve on the institute's advisory board. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025 Han, 75, formerly the prime minister, stepped in as acting president in December after the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial imposition of martial law. Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • After the 120-day interim period, the president must either nominate a permanent candidate for Senate confirmation or the district court may appoint a successor.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2025
  • District attorney Jewell Harris Jr. said there’s a distinction between an acting superintendent and an interim position.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Further factions emerge from there, as people start playing the game within the Squid Game, forming pockets of friendships and alliances, real and fake.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2024
  • The World Junior tournament is always good for some surprises; a couple of unexpected players emerging as top scorers or playing well in big moments, or a traditional top nation getting upset in the medal round.
    Corey Pronman, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • There have been many examples of that from our first edition up until today with global producers and DJs working with top headliners from Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon and rest of the Arab world.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The City is Ours This City is Ours is the story of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce), a man who, for all of his adult life, has been involved in organized crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie (Sean Bean).
    Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Step one is converting a Mayfair to their side, with Moira seeming like the easiest target.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 5 Jan. 2025
  • Despite the seeming doom and gloom, many institutions are stepping up to the plate in the face of these challenges, creating more accessible pathways to higher education.
    Susan R. Burns, New York Daily News, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The school's kitchen and cafeteria are congested with long serving lines, according to the district's website.
    Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Shanghai remains the hub for the new model, with the city serving as the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's center of production, as well as the base for its research and development departments.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • This prompt gives you enough talking points to contribute thoughtfully without pretending to be an expert.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Interspersed in the narrative, there are South Asian folktales about a jackal who is punished for pretending to be a king and a foolish man who puts all his eggs in a basket.
    Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Bannon talked over and through Newsom’s questions, goading the governor at certain points, gently mocking him at others.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025
  • In the essay, the 37-year-old recalled how Trachtenberg was often bullied by their peers, with kids mocking her for her role in Harriet the Spy.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • While some infotainment systems are better than others, many drivers use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto daily to access navigation and entertainment for their drives.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • The company provides capital to media and entertainment businesses, including motion picture studios, independent production companies and other rights-holders.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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