play the part
idiom
: to act the part of (a particular character) in a film, play, etc.
He often plays the part of the villain.
—often used figurativelyI've played the part of (the) devoted wife and mother, and now I want to do something more with my life.
He was playing the part of (the) gracious host.
Examples of play the part in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once the bait was sorted, the team chose its test subjects, the microorganisms chosen to play the part of aliens were extremophile bacteria.
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Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Trying to play the part of the IT shadow tough guy in his interrogation, Pembroke easily sees through the ruse.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2025
It was left to Dean Phillips, the former Minnesota representative, to play the part of the boy who says the emperor has no clothes.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
For him, the New York ready-to-wear collections play the part of prewar couture mid-seasons.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play the part
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Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Trying to play the part of the IT shadow tough guy in his interrogation, Pembroke easily sees through the ruse.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2025
It was left to Dean Phillips, the former Minnesota representative, to play the part of the boy who says the emperor has no clothes.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
For him, the New York ready-to-wear collections play the part of prewar couture mid-seasons.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play the part
Cite this Entry
“Play the part.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20the%20part. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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