Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of another. synonym: temporary.
  • noun The occupation of an actor.
  • noun Performance as an actor.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Performing duty, service, or functions; specifically, performing the functions of an office or employment temporarily: as, an acting governor or mayor; an acting colonel or superintendent.
  • Performing, or used in performing, stage-plays.
  • noun The profession of an actor or player.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Operating in any way.
  • adjective Doing duty for another; officiating.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of another person when they are unable to do their job.
  • verb Present participle of act.
  • noun An intended action or deed.
  • noun Pretending.
  • noun drama The occupation of an actor.
  • noun law The deeds or actions of parties are called actings to avoid confusion with the legal senses of deeds and actions.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective serving temporarily especially as a substitute
  • noun the performance of a part or role in a drama

Etymologies

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Examples

  • For, in truth, he is not acting in his own interest but in that of a third person, who has yet to come into existence, albeit he is under the impression that he is acting in his own But it is this very _acting in some one else's interest_ which is everywhere the stamp of greatness and gives to passionate love the touch of the sublime, making it a worthy subject for the poet.

    Essays of Schopenhauer Arthur Schopenhauer 1824

  • (acting normally on the advice _acting on advice of Irish of Irish Cabinet?), but subject Cabinet_, but subject to to instructions from Imperial instructions from Imperial

    The Framework of Home Rule Erskine Childers 1896

  • There are some fairly creepy set pieces but nothing really stands out, the acting is average, the plot is hackneyed and derivative, the direction is average.

    Movie Review – The Unborn 2009

  • Yes she will be in a horror film but her acting is the best compared to the rest of the class.

    'Gossip Girl' cast: Who's picking the best movies? | EW.com 2009

  • The story seems slow, subplots feel inconsequential and there as filler, and some of the acting is about as bland as a Raman noodle.

    Archive 2009-09-01 2009

  • The rest of the acting is acceptable, and Jesse Eisenberg plays a vastly different young man than he does in “Adventureland.”

    Current Movie Reviews, Independent Movies - Film Threat 2009

  • There are some fairly creepy set pieces but nothing really stands out, the acting is average, the plot is hackneyed and derivative, the direction is average.

    22 « January « 2009 « Axiom's Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy 2009

  • The story seems slow, subplots feel inconsequential and there as filler, and some of the acting is about as bland as a Raman noodle.

    The Mondays: The Fall of Television 2009

  • There's exactly the right amount of action, to me, and all the acting is at least good, sometimes very good.

    Sarah Connor Chronicles: What did we end up with? 2008

  • Yes, the acting is a little stuffy and the story, a blend of Sasquatch-meets-the-legendary Chupacabra, is lacking in originality.

    Current Movie Reviews, Independent Movies - Film Threat 2008

Comments

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  • Artie did this before joining The Secret Service.

    December 24, 2012