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
At the time, acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez attributed the changes to technical issues. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 PinkPantheress has locked in her first-ever acting role in a movie. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
Noun
A day after our conversation, Gisondo received a Gotham Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performance, becoming Primetime’s sole acting nominee. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026 The book is a rich and lyrical telling of her childhood as the daughter of a dynasty of Manhattan wine sellers; her days on the New York City club scene of the late ’90s; her culinary studies, acting auditions, and restaurant jobs; and more. — Tarajia Morrell, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
The muon is typically ejected, freeing it to create a new exotic atom and restart the cycle; thus, the muon is acting as a catalyst, a nuclear matchmaker. — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026 The move aligns the acting races with the rest of the categories on the ballot. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Since interim head coach Ryan Richter took over during the World Cup break, Philadelphia earned 43 of a possible 57 points while outscoring opponents 48-22 during that span.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Amari Thomas ran for two touchdowns, his second an 11-yarder to put Florida State ahead late in the fourth quarter, and the Seminoles beat Boston College 31-24 on Saturday to make interim coach Rick Stockstill a winner in his first game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The two tied the knot in July 2010 in a New York ceremony with hundreds of guests, among them sports and entertainment stars including LeBron James, Spike Lee, Serena Williams, Ciara, Kim Kardashian and Ludacris, The Times reported.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The entertainer, 67, was a guest on The Drew Barrymore show recently, and spoke to guest host Valerie Bertinelli about his early days in entertainment.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Saddiq Bey had 13 points for New Orleans, which was playing the opener of a two-game California trip.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The digital creator has gone viral a number of times in the past for his whiteface sketches, from playing a rowdy redneck to Erika Kirk.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Dodgers looking for Miguel Rojas replacement Rojas already has begun the transition into his player development role with the Dodgers, working with prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Asphalt contractor Albert Santing, who has 28 years of experience in the industry, said the quieter operation improved working conditions on the Groningen project.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Here it is displayed in a coil, though its configuration is flexible—perhaps a metaphor countering the seeming immutability of shape, form, and even time.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Pappas brings a background in opening Capellas, Ritz-Carltons, and high-end mountain resorts, seeming well poised to help Sundance scale (within reason) its luxury product.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • District officials also shared a statement on Wednesday saying its focus remains the same in serving students despite the pending change in statewide leadership.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Provided by Hailey Gibbons Women have faced resistance from the military community in serving in combat roles and trying out for special operations, and that's still the case.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The shooting prompted national media coverage, with news outlets in Georgia describing Brayden as an outgoing child and a fan of Spider-Man who loved playing as the superhero by pretending to shoot webs and jump around.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Honor isn't pretending that the Magic 9 can go toe-to-toe with Hollywood-grade camera rigs.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Vision decrypts a mocking email exchange between Ultron and Paladin, who’s angry his unbreakable contract was broken.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As proof of how much of a joke this has become for people is that a sketch mocking their drama was part of the October 10 episode of Saturday Night Live UK.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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