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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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 last acting role was a return to voice acting, a free-to-play video game in 2016. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 June 2026 His first acting role was in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III (1990). Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 June 2026
Noun
With zero acting experience, Mona has never been on a stage before and here must audition for the role of the building supervisor, Miss Danielle. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026 Nothing if not original, Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard casts Kate and Rooney Mara as Irish sisters who speak, think and move in unison, an impressive feat of disciplined acting that exerts its own peculiar fascination. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
And acting together, cells are collectively intelligent, ultimately building complex final forms—whether that be a flower, a whale, or even you. Matthew Hutson, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2026 Instead of acting like a CEO, approach the situation like a detective. Juli Fraga, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qa’eda militant who led the rebel offensive that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been struggling to rebuild a nation devastated by almost 14 years of civil war.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The deal comes eight months after Washington ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military raid and co-opted the remaining regime led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Some of the finer details to try and maximize entertainment include a novel approach with lane allocation.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • For years, Anthony’s job entailed watching hours of news and entertainment broadcasts, then flagging moments that might be funny or interesting enough to highlight during monologues.
    Jesse McLaren, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Rather than playing as two traditional wingers, in this moment, both players were on the left flank.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rumors have circulated that Stan may be playing Harvey Dent, the district attorney who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face and was previously portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, and Billy Dee Williams.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Now knighted, Lardelli is still involved with the All Blacks, working especially closely with their new players.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • And Vail’s unionized workers have been fighting with management over working conditions.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • American sophistication has its sprezzatura—Astaire made an art of it—but characteristically turns effortlessness outward, into charm, something ingratiating and democratic-seeming.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In walks an attractive similar-aged young lady seeming to require assistance, and that was my pivot point.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The outreach is part of an attempt to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after Min Aung Hlaing ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021 while serving as army chief.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Skywalker Ranch, in addition to serving as Lucasfilm’s audio postproduction and sound facility, is also a working Wagyu cattle farm.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In Mozart’s original, two Italian soldiers decide to test their lovers’ fidelity by pretending to head off to war.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Respondents questioned Dave Aranda’s roster construction, the program’s lack of identity and why everybody is pretending this isn’t a lame-duck season.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Last year, the Brewers finished five games in front of the Cubs and then eliminated their big-market rival in October, celebrating with an L flag in their team photo, mocking a Wrigley Field tradition.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Hansen can be cruelly mocking towards his oft-flustered but extremely professional producer Andie Bender (an astonishingly good Merritt Wever).
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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