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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5
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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
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 His final acting role was on a 1996 episode of Caroline in the City. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Noun
May 17 was chosen to mark the day Lee left Hong Kong and returned to San Francisco at age 18, a pivotal moment that helped launch his acting and martial arts teaching career. Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 1 July 2026 After all, seven out of the last 12 acting performances to have won Oscars are for films that premiered prior to the fall festival season, which was long seen as the optimal launchpad for awards contenders. Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
Verb
Long before his acting career took off, Fernández began a promising soccer career, playing youth soccer for Mexican club Guadalajara Estudiantes Tecos Club and Puerto Rico's Guayama FC before injuries ultimately sidelined him, according to ESPN. Mason Leib, ABC News, 13 July 2026 In 1991, Neill was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to acting. Katrina Tudlong, NBC news, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
  • Mattingly, now the Phillies' interim manager, has led the team from a 9-19 record to playoff contention, expressing interest in the full-time role.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Oil threatens to spoil the market rally … again The Iran war returned to Wall Street's doorstep last week, illustrating the fragility of the interim peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • The debate over the development has played out amid a serious downturn in the region’s entertainment industry, with studios shifting film and television production to Georgia, New Mexico and other out-of-state locations.
    Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Bands perform as the peaceful crowd saunters, with the visual entertainment of beefy men cooking barbecue on giant grills.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • The excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup has inspired many fans, from former players to beginners, to slide into a pair of shin guards and start playing the beautiful game.
    Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • So Ohashi started working with a personal trainer, lifting weights for three hours a day for four days a week.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Belichick divided offensive coordinator duties between longtime assistant Matt Particia, who’d primarily been a defensive coach, and Joe Judge, who was working with New England’s special teams.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • In the closeness of the moment, their seeming friendship allows Jérôme to tell Claire that her boyfriend might be cheating on her.
    André Aciman, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Even on the paradisiac-seeming a cappella introduction, a collaboration with Jamila Woods and L’Rain, something lingers in the foreground.
    Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Consider reaching out to these locations about serving as practical access points for basic health services, such as mobile clinics, periodic screenings or connected health kiosks that enable remote consultations.
    Sas Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Performance Inspired Nutrition, co-founded by Mark Wahlberg and Tom Dowd, sells whey protein powder with 25 grams of protein per serving.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • But the favor economy has a bias problem baked into its wiring, and pretending otherwise helps no one.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • In the minute-long video, he can be seen dancing, bouncing a basketball and pretending to play a mini violin as rock music played in the background.
    Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • The latest comedic trend taking over social media involves people mocking Netflix-style documentaries with a specific prompt, usually tied to their trauma, niche inconveniences, major news events or unanswered questions in pop culture.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • The Belgian team’s official X account celebrated the team’s win with a pair of mocking posts.
    Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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