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
Howard provides the cops with a box of Nancy’s belongings, which an embarrassed Mary admits to stealing, with it later being revealed that Mary and Howard used to role-play as Nancy and her husband Robert (Joel Kinnaman).
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
In testimony Monday, Woodall described being made to undress in Kiesle’s rectory bedroom during a sleepover as a fifth-grader, before being molested alongside another child as part of a role-playing bedtime story.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
That all changed with the character’s first foray into the role-playing genre, 1996’s Super Mario RPG.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
Campers can while away their hours with axe throwing, Quidditch matches, foam sword fights, live-action role-play, escape room challenges and more.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for role-play
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Arushi Jacob, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
In testimony Monday, Woodall described being made to undress in Kiesle’s rectory bedroom during a sleepover as a fifth-grader, before being molested alongside another child as part of a role-playing bedtime story.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
That all changed with the character’s first foray into the role-playing genre, 1996’s Super Mario RPG.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
Campers can while away their hours with axe throwing, Quidditch matches, foam sword fights, live-action role-play, escape room challenges and more.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
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 27 Apr. 2026.
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