underact

American

[uhn-der-akt] / ˌʌn dərˈækt /

verb (used with or without object)

to underplay.

underact British

/ ˌʌndərˈækt /

verb

theatre to play (a role) without adequate emphasis Compare overact

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

underactor noun

Etymology

Origin of underact

First recorded in 1615–25; under- + act

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is not clear why both redacted and underacted versions of the report have been included in the files.

From BBC

Mr Yousaf said he has not removed any messages and that all of his underacted files would be handed over.

From BBC

Citing personnel rules, the secretary said disclosing the names of the participants, their rank and their disciplinary status as well as an underacted version of the photo are pending the finished investigation.

From Seattle Times

The village also declined to provide underacted financial information to the Tribune.

From Chicago Tribune

"This beautifully modulated piece of underacting deserves to make him a strong contender at next year's Oscars," wrote Chris Tookey in the Daily Mail.

From Reuters

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023