acting
/ˈaktɪŋ
/noun [mass noun]
The art or occupation of performing fictional roles in plays, films, or television: she studied acting in New York I’d prefer him not to go into acting as it’s such an insecure business [as modifier]: an acting career...
- This is a film with fine acting, camera work free of frills and a plot that will keep you guessing.
- We talked a lot about Fifties-style acting, especially Montgomery Clift.
- The acting in the film is as predictable as the various denouements.
Synonyms
drama, the theatre, the stage, the performing arts, dramatic art, dramatics, dramaturgy, stagecraft, theatricals, theatrics, the thespian art, show business;
performing, performance, portraying, portrayal, playing a role, appearing on stage
informal the boards, treading the boards, show biz
rare thespianism, histrionics
adjective [attributive]
Temporarily doing the duties of another person: the acting supervisor...
- He later served as flow director for the Space Shuttle Discovery and then as the acting deputy director of the Installation Operations Directorate.
- But she already had a letter showing she had passed her probationary period, signed by her acting duty station manger.
- It was his duty as acting sheriff until his brother was back to protect her.
Synonyms
substitute, deputy, reserve, fill-in, stand-in, caretaker;
temporary, short-term, provisional, interim, intervening, pro tem, improvised, surrogate, stopgap, transitional, changeover;
Latin pro tempore, ad interim
informal second-string
North American informal pinch-hitting