a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ac•tor /ˈæktɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Show Businessa person who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.
- a participant:actors in history's great events.
ac•tor
(ak′tər),USA pronunciation n.
Ac•tor (ak′tər),USA pronunciation n. [Class. Myth.]
- Show Businessa person who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, television broadcasts, etc.
- a person who does something;
participant.
- Latin āctor, equivalent. to āg- (see act) + -tor -tor
- Middle English 1350–1400
Ac•tor (ak′tər),USA pronunciation n. [Class. Myth.]
- Mythologya brother of King Augeas, sometimes believed to be the father, by Molione, of Eurytus and Cteatus. Cf. Moliones.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'actors' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
-aea
- Actors' Equity Association
- Alexander technique
- Barrymore
- Britpack
- Equity
- acting
- acting area
- alternate
- audition
- back projection
- blue screen
- boo
- bratpack
- break
- breathe
- buskin
- call
- callboy
- cast
- casting
- casting couch
- central casting
- chemistry
- chorus
- clan
- clap
- company
- costar
- cothurnus
- direct
- direction
- drama
- dress
- dresser
- duo
- duologue
- ensemble
- epilogue
- equity
- ess
- extemporaneous
- farandole
- fourth wall
- glitter
- go off
- grease paint
- greasepaint
- heel
- histrionic