# act in

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/act-in
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to have a role in a movie, play, or television show.

For teachers: to perform a role within a specific dramatic production; transitive phrasal verb requiring a production as the object.

## Examples

- She wants to act in a famous movie one day.
- Many famous Hollywood stars started their careers by acting in small independent films.
- The veteran stage performer was finally persuaded to act in a contemporary television drama despite his long-standing preference for classical theater.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He acted in Hamlet character." but "He acted in Hamlet." — The object of 'act in' must be the title of the work, not the name of the character.

## Usage notes

- The object is always the production (film, play, series) rather than the character name.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'act as' (used for the character name) or 'act out' (to perform a specific scene or behavior).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.