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 Israeli actor Fehr recently appeared in the biblical drama House of David and currently recurs on Apple TV+’s Your Friends & Neighbors. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026 Decking out background actors on the HBO period drama is months in the making, with in-house milliners tasked with constructing eye-catching headwear. — Emma Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 In addition to Anderson, the show launched the careers of actors such as Carmen Electra, Jason Momoa and Yasmine Bleeth. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 According to Saldaña, Sheridan constantly challenges the actors to elevate their performances. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 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
  • When the actress’ hiring was announced, there was an outcry over allegations of colorism due to Stenberg’s mixed-race status and lighter skin tone.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Buffett, an actress, was not accused of carrying out the murders or helping her then-fiancé, Daniel Wozniak, commit them.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of actress
Noun
  • Approximately four in five participants are in households earning less than $66,000 per year for a family of four.
    — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The financing facilities will be a boon for startups and mature companies alike — but will also likely fuel concerns from some industry participants that Nvidia is fencing its customers into its own ecosystem.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of participant
Noun
  • The Philadelphia Phillies endured another frustrating loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night, and the fallout reached a poor performer almost immediately.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Aronow started out as a performer herself, her childhood spent singing popular jingles for Hasbro and Kidz Bop.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of performer
Noun
  • Angel Genao became the first player in Cleveland history with four hits in his MLB debut and drove in what had been the go-ahead run in the seventh.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Even Dodgers players remarked on the environment for an August regular-season series.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of player
Noun
  • Comedian, actor, and entertainer Bill Bellamy will be presented with the Icon Award at the 2026 Whats Funny Comedy Festival, recognizing his decades of excellence and impact on stand-up comedy and entertainment.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Jelly-Schapiro, the author of a new biography of Belafonte, considers the entertainer’s distinctive combination of mainstream appeal and radical politics.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 6 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
  • Broadway's glittering lights have always beckoned aspiring thespians and avid theatergoers to New York, and the city's ever exciting theatre scene is far from simply resting on its laurels.
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026
  • Zendaya counted her sixth Emmy nom for the final season of Euphoria with a Best Actress Drama Series nod; the Spider-Man and Dune thespian already has two at home, with Drama Series Actress wins in 2020 and 2022 on HBO’s edgy HBO young-adult series.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 8 July 2026
Definition of thespian

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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 11 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on actor

Nglish: Translation of actor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actor

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