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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in entertainment
Related Words
1
as in playing
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in working
to produce a desired effect
the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seeming
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in serving
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of acting
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
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
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 July 2026
In addition to acting, Martinez was an accomplished musician and had a long career in theater, including a notable role in the Broadway production of Man of La Mancha.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
Denmark has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of acting talent, and The Guest is proof of that.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 July 2026
In addition to acting, Martinez was an accomplished musician and had a long career in theater, including a notable role in the Broadway production of Man of La Mancha.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
6 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
-
In June 2024, the UFC matched Makhachev against former interim UFC lightweight titleholder Dustin Poirier.
-
The disaster is becoming the defining challenge of Rodríguez’s interim presidency.
Noun
-
New York Police shut down the immediate vicinity of Madison Square Garden and closed part of 7th Avenue bottlenecking traffic near the iconic sports and entertainment arena.
-
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
Verb
-
Win prizes playing interactive games, network with artists and entrepreneurs and enjoy signature drinks and bar snacks available for purchase.
-
Men leaders can pay attention to and be mindful of who in the workplace may be playing more of an emotional support role that falls outside their job description.
Verb
-
The government is also working with private developers, banks and the real estate sector to accelerate temporary and permanent housing solutions.
-
In soccer, the line between a yellow and a red card can be subjective, depending on the referee working the game that day and his or her interpretation of the play.
Verb
-
The musical’s overture gives you a sense of the complexity that’s needed to make seeming simple and straightforward material really soar.
-
This World Cup has been remarkable for FIFA under Infantino seeming to rewrite the norms of disciplinary action even before the tournament began.
Verb
-
Two Latinos are running in this year’s election to replace Councilmember Curren Price, who is Black and retiring after serving the maximum three terms.
-
That collection includes serving trays, platters, linens, vases, and wine goblets with pops of blues and yellows for a coastal vibe.
Verb
-
The scammer then calls, pretending to be in a crisis and in need of immediate financial assistance.
-
For example, a group of minions might be pretending to fight a group of Vikings on a movie set, or enough alien spaceships to fill the entire screen appear and shoot their lasers at once.
Verb
-
Second lady Usha Vance mocking The New York Times for reading political significance into her Old Navy maternity dress and the New York Knicks celebrating their NBA title were featured in last week's News Quiz.
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This patriotic anthem of the American Revolution originated as a favorite tune of British soldiers, who enjoyed its lyrics mocking American colonists.
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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