role-play

verb

ˈrōl-ˌplā 

-ˈplā

variants or less commonly roleplay

role-played also roleplayed; role-playing also roleplaying; role-plays also roleplays

transitive verb

1

: to act out the role of

2

: to represent in action

students were asked to role-play the thoughts and feelings of each character

—R. G. Lambert

intransitive verb

: to play a role

role-play noun

or less commonly roleplay

plural role-plays also roleplays

I practice this with student social workers through case studies and role-play.

—Kevin Brazant, quoted in psychologytoday.com

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2019, students of color in her child’s 5th-grade class were asked to role-play various scenes from history, including slavery and drinking out of a segregated water fountain. —Meg St-esprit, Good Housekeeping, 23 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

role-play

verb

ˈrōl-ˌplā,

-ˈplā

: to act out the role of

role-play an interviewer

Medical Definition

role-play

transitive verb

ˈrōl-ˌplā 

: act out

intransitive verb

: to play a role