acting

1 of 3

noun

act·​ing ˈak-tiŋ 

: the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras

acting

2 of 3

adjective

1

: holding a temporary rank or position : performing services temporarily

acting president

2

a

: suitable for stage performance

an acting play

b

: prepared with directions for actors

an acting text of a play

acting

3 of 3

present participle of act entry 2

Synonyms of acting

Adjective

• interim

Examples of acting in a Sentence

Noun

Her acting is unusually good in this film.

a new style of acting

Adjective

The college's acting president will be replaced with a permanent one next fall.

will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Return to the small screen Meghan’s return to acting would be almost as much of a surprise as her family’s move back to the UK. — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Another showcase for Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s acting and contains a powerful scene between Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Uncle Lee (Bob Odenkirk) that sets the stage for the show’s final season. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from gerund of act entry 2

Adjective

from present participle of act entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing acting

• long-acting reversible contraception
• long-acting reversible contraceptive
• Method acting
• self-acting

Rhymes for acting

• abstracting
• attracting
• coacting
• compacting
• contacting
• detracting
• distracting
• enacting
• exacting
• extracting
• impacting
• reacting

Kids Definition

acting

adjective

act·​ing

ˈak-tiŋ

: serving temporarily or in place of another

acting president