acting

[ ak-ting ]

/ ˈæk tɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR acting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

serving temporarily, especially as a substitute during another's absence; not permanent; temporary: the acting mayor.

designed, adapted, or suitable for stage performance.

provided with detailed stage directions for the performer: an acting version of a play.

noun

the art, profession, or activity of those who perform in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.

Nearby words

acth-producing adenoma, actin, actin filament, actin-, actinal, acting, acting area, actinia, actinian, actinic, actinic cheilitis

Origin of acting

First recorded in 1595–1605; act + -ing², -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR acting

1 provisional, interim.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR acting ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pro·act·ing, adjectiveun·act·ing, adjective

Definition for acting (2 of 2)

act

[ akt ]

/ ækt /

noun

anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.

the process of doing: caught in the act.

a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award: an act of Congress.

an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.

one of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.

a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.

the personnel of such a group: The act broke up after 30 years.

false show; pretense; feint: The politician's pious remarks were all an act.

Philosophy. (in scholasticism)

activity in process; operation.
the principle or power of operation.
form as determining essence.
a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.

verb (used without object)

to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative: He acted promptly in the emergency.

to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter: I am required to act before noon tomorrow.

to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions: to act as manager.

to produce an effect; perform a function: The medicine failed to act.

to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.

to pretend; feign: Act interested even if you're bored.

to perform as an actor: He acted in three plays by Molière.

to be capable of being performed: His plays don't act well.

to serve or substitute (usually followed by for): In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.

verb (used with object)

to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person: to act Macbeth.

to feign; counterfeit: to act outraged virtue.

to behave as: He acted the fool.

Obsolete. to actuate.

Verb Phrases

act on/upon,

to act in accordance with; follow: He acted on my advice.
to have an effect on; affect: The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.

act out,

to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures: The party guests acted out stories for one another.
Psychology. to give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding: The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.

act up,

to fail to function properly; malfunction: The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
to behave willfully: The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
to become painful or troublesome, especially after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.

get/have one's act together, Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently: The new administration is still getting its act together.

Origin of act

1350–1400; Middle English act(e) (< Middle French) < Latin ācta, plural of āctum something done, noun use of past participle of agere to do (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly < Latin āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)

SYNONYMS FOR act

1 feat, exploit; achievement; transaction; accomplishment. See action.

4 record.

6 turn, routine.

10–13 perform, function, work. play. 19, 21 play.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR act ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mis·act, verb (used without object)post·act, nounpre·act, verb (used with object)un·act·ed, adjective

well-act·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for acting

Even the hot Jewish women I mentioned above did something a bit more “intellectual” than pageantry: acting.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is acting in every sense of the word—bringing an unevolved animal to life and making it utterly believable.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Acting legend talks about what role is closest to her heart.
Gena Rowlands on Her Favorite ‘Woman’|The Daily Beast Video|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To judge her acting abilities for yourself, check out her videos on YouTube for “Sex Shooter.”
Speed Read: The Juiciest Bits From the History of ‘Purple Rain’|Jennie Yabroff|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Bratton was not ready to say that Brinsley was acting as part of a group or as anything but a lone monster.
Two Cops ‘Assassinated’ in Brooklyn|Michael Daly|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Acting on this suggestion, we turned back and cantered round to the other side of the cover.
Sporting Society, Vol. II (of 2)|Various
Again I trod on air—and yet—and yet—I felt that I was acting like a fool.
A Frontier Mystery|Bertram Mitford
Yet, in thus yielding to necessity, she did so protesting that she was acting under compulsion.
History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain.|William H. Prescott
Mrs. Eastham was acting as chaperon to the girl, and some heated words passed between her and the two young men.
The Stowmarket Mystery|Louis Tracy
Horace Hibbs, acting as official timer, squinted inquiringly at the two teams.
The Boy Scouts of Lakeville High|Leslie W. Quirk

British Dictionary definitions for acting (1 of 4)

acting

/ (ˈæktɪŋ) /

adjective (prenominal)

taking on duties temporarily, esp as a substitute for anotherthe acting president

operating or functioningan acting order

intended for stage performance; provided with directions for actorsan acting version of ``Hedda Gabler''

noun

the art or profession of an actor

British Dictionary definitions for acting (2 of 4)

ACT

abbreviation for

Australian Capital Territory

(formerly in Britain) advance corporation tax

British Dictionary definitions for acting (3 of 4)

ACT

/ (ækt) /

n acronym for

(in New Zealand) Association of Consumers and Taxpayers: a small political party of the right

British Dictionary definitions for acting (4 of 4)

act

/ (ækt) /

noun

something done or performed; a deed

the performance of some physical or mental process; action

(capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc

(often plural) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body

a major division of a dramatic work

a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment
those giving such a performance

an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress

philosophy an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determinedCompare event (def. 4)

verb

(intr) to do something; carry out an action

(intr) to function in a specified way; operate; reacthis mind acted quickly

to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc

(tr) to present (a play, etc) on stage

(intr; usually foll by for or as) to be a substitute (for); function in place (of)

(intr foll by as) to serve the function or purpose (of)the glass acted as protection

(intr) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were)she usually acts like a lady

(intr) to behave in an unnatural or affected way

(copula) to pose as; play the part ofto act the fool

(copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age)

(copula) not standard to seem or pretend to beto act tired

clean up one's act to start to behave in a responsible manner

get in on the act informal to become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits

get one's act together informal to become organized or prepared

Derived Forms

actable, adjectiveactability, noun

Word Origin for act

C14: from Latin actus a doing, performance, and actum a thing done, from the past participle of agere to do

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with acting

act

In addition to the idioms beginning with act

act of faith
act of God
act on
act one's age
act out
act up
act upon

also see:

catch in the act
clean up (one's act)
do a disappearing act
get in the act
get one's act together
hard (tough) act to follow
high-wire act
in the act of
put on an act

acting

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of acting

SYNONYMS FOR acting

Related forms

Definition for acting (2 of 2)

act

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of act

SYNONYMS FOR act

Related forms

Examples from the Web for acting

British Dictionary definitions for acting (1 of 4)

acting

adjective (prenominal)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for acting (2 of 4)

ACT

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for acting (3 of 4)

ACT

n acronym for

British Dictionary definitions for acting (4 of 4)

act

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for act

Idioms and Phrases with acting

act