actor

noun

ˈak-tər How to pronounce actor (audio)
Definition of actornext
1
as in actress
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) my sister went to drama school to become an actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in participant
one who takes part in something Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 actor One simple habit exemplified the actor’s instinct to be of service to others. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 There are more and more actors which are producing the inspector robots. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Dolly Parton was more than a musician, actor, author, philanthropist, or theme-park entrepreneur. — Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 The force has since supported several non-state actors in the Middle East, from Hamas in Gaza to the Houthis in Yemen and even the Taliban in Afghanistan during the 1990s. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actor
  1. actress
  2. participant
  3. performer
  4. player
  5. entertainer
  6. participator
  7. thespian
Noun
  • Paul Petersen, who played Shelley Fabares’ brother on The Donna Reed Show, paid tribute to the late actress.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rogers and the actress, 80, were married from 1977 until 1993.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of actress
Noun
  • Those were just some of the ways participants at Sunday’s Malört world record attempt described Chicago’s hometown liqueur.
    — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its core commitments are voluntary and informed participation, minimization of harm to participants, confidentiality and prior approval by an institutional review board that weighs risk against scientific value.
    — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of participant
Noun
  • An aerial performer hung upside down from the ceiling while pouring Malört shots.
    — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Las Vegas performer Jeff Hutson brings his band for a Valentine’s Day show.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of performer
Noun
  • Back in 2015, Parton and her team buried a chestnut box filled with physical copies of a brand new song in two formats, cassette and CD, along with their corresponding players, under her Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Joe Marler, a former rugby player whose TV star is rising after his appearance on The Celebrity Traitors last year, is also being eyed by the BBC.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of player
Noun
  • Apart from her work as an entertainer, Parton was also known for her philanthropy.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Dolly Parton the entertainer was also a bona fide mogul who transformed her corner of Appalachia.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertainer
Noun
  • And in doing so, Gunther often lulls crowds into becoming sporting event spectators rather than the raucous participators that most other wrestlers try to draw out of them.
    — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Definition of participator
Noun
  • Tim Curry, the shape-shifting English thespian whose entertainment career never failed to defy industry expectations, has died at 80 years old, according to reports from multiple outlets.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The latest entry to cross the pond is unlikely to reap similar success despite the presence of Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield in leading roles and a supporting cast featuring some of England’s finest thespians.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of thespian

Browse Nearby Words

activity
actor
actorish
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Cite this Entry

“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actor. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on actor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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