US /ˈæk.tɚ/ UK /ˈak.tə(ɹ)/
noun Freq #2480

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a person who performs in plays, films, or television

    He is one of the most famous actors in the country.

  2. 2
    noun

    a person or group that takes part in a situation or action

    Several major actors were involved in the peace talks.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a person who performs in... performerplayer
2 noun · a person or group that... participantagent
Opposites
Word family
Forms actors
Derived forms actor-proofactoressactorficactorialactorineactorishactorismactorlikeactorlyactornautactornessactorship

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin āctus Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin āctorbor. Middle English actour English actor Inherited from Middle English actour, from Anglo-Norman actor, Middle French actor, and their source, Latin āctor (“doer”), from agō (“to do”). Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (áktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (ágō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).

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