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Meaning & use

acting

noun, adjective·Everyday

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UK/ˈæktɪŋ/
US/ˈæktɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The work or skill of performing roles in plays, films or television.

    Grammar: No plural and no article before it when speaking in general: she studied acting.

    Patterns

    • acting in something
    • a career in acting

    She studied acting for three years before her first film.

    His acting in the final scene made the audience cry.

    Acting is hard work, with long hours and many auditions.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Temporarily doing the duties of a more senior person who is away or whose post is empty.

    Grammar: Always before a noun: the acting director, not 'the director is acting'.

    Patterns

    • acting director
    • acting head of something

    The acting principal met with parents on Monday.

    Maria served as acting manager while Tom was on leave.

    The acting chief of police announced the new rules.

  3. noununcountableinformal

    Behavior that is pretended or put on, instead of being sincere.

    Grammar: Uncountable and often disapproving: stop the acting.

    Patterns

    • it's all acting

    His apology was pure acting, and everyone could tell.

    The tears were not real, only acting for sympathy.

    Her calm voice was acting, since she was truly terrified.

Common combinations

acting career
She gave up her acting career to become a teacher.
acting class
He takes an acting class on Thursday evenings.
acting role
The acting role required him to learn a new accent.
acting president
The acting president signed the order.
good acting
The film is weak, but the acting is good.

Synonyms and how they differ

performing
Performing is broader and also covers dance, music and comedy, while acting is limited to playing characters.
theater
Theater names the art and the building, whereas acting names only the performer's craft.
interim
Interim describes a temporary post in a formal way and is similar to acting before a job title, but usually sounds more official.
pretense
Pretense is a closer match to the pretending sense and sounds more serious than acting.

Opposites

permanentsincere

Word family

act verb
to perform a role, or to take action
actor noun
a person who performs roles
actress noun
a woman who performs roles
action noun
the process of doing something
actively adverb
in an energetic or involved way

Commonly confused: acting or acting vs. interim? acting or action?

acting vs acting vs. interim

Acting is used before a post such as acting director, while interim is often used for a temporary arrangement or a period.

acting vs action

Action means doing something. Acting is the craft of performing roles.

Practice

The principal is ill this month, so Mr. Lee is the ___ principal and handles her duties.

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