actor

noun

ac·​tor ˈak-tər How to pronounce actor (audio)
also -ˌtȯr
Synonyms of actornext
1
: one that acts : doer
2
a
: one who acts in a play, movie, television show, etc.
b
: one who behaves as if acting a part
3
: one that takes part in any affair : participant
political actors
actorish adjective
actorly adjective

Examples of actor in a Sentence

my sister went to drama school to become an actor Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Australian actor, 31, stars in the new horror movie as Arthur, who re-creates and uploads videos of the kills shown in the titular 1978 film (once widely believed to be an actual snuff film), opposite Barbie Ferreira, who plays a content moderator trying to thwart him. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026 The actors seem tuned to one another like musicians in an orchestra, and Romvari guides them through performances that feel neither overplayed or understated. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026 The Olivier Awards were founded in 1976 and named after the late actor-director Laurence Olivier. ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026 Some of the crypto wallets used in these hacks were also linked to the North Korean state actors known for their involvement in WannaCry and the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures by Lazarus Group. Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actour "doer, pleader," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin āctor, from agere "to drive (cattle), cause to move, do" + -tor, agent suffix — more at agent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of actor was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actor. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

actor

noun
ac·​tor ˈak-tər How to pronounce actor (audio)
: one that acts
especially : a person who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

More from Merriam-Webster on actor

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster