variants
or less commonly roleplay
role-played also roleplayed; role-playing also roleplaying; role-plays also roleplays
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
R. G. Lambert
: 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
Kevin Brazant, quoted in psychologytoday.com
Examples of role-play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Put a little more onus on Garland to drive and kick, a little more pressure on Mobley to crash hard as an offensive rebounder, a little more patience on the role-playing 3-point shooters to stay ready for when the swing pass comes their way.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But what your average gooner is up to is basically a kind of sad, confusing role-play.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The first is an engaged, role-playing Jonathan Kuminga.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Many role-playing games burst onto the scene promising that your choices will matter, only for that claim to fall flat in practice.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role-play
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Joe Vardon, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But what your average gooner is up to is basically a kind of sad, confusing role-play.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The first is an engaged, role-playing Jonathan Kuminga.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Many role-playing games burst onto the scene promising that your choices will matter, only for that claim to fall flat in practice.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role-play
Cite this Entry
“Role-play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role-play. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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