verb
- performs a role with insufficient emotion or expression; acts in a restrained or subdued manner
Usage: theater and film
Examples
- The critic felt the lead actor underacts in the dramatic scenes.
- She tends to underact when she’s nervous on stage.
- The director told him not to underact during the emotional climax.
- Many method actors prefer to underact rather than be overly theatrical.
- He underacts so much that his performance lacks energy.
- The film suffers because the main character underacts throughout.