play the role

idiom

: to act the part of (a particular character) in a film, play, etc.
He often plays the role of the villain.
often used figuratively
He was playing the role of (the) gracious host.

Examples of play the role in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When March Madness arrives, however, college hoops play the role of jester in the capital region, according to a recent study by WalletHub. Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025 Behavioral Finance The best financial advisors play the role of a psychologist, helping their clients stay the course and manage their behavior, regardless of the investment or economic environment. Joshua Strange, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 Ifans will play the role of Chief Designer, the driving force behind the Soviet Space program. Gabriela Silva, TVLine, 3 Feb. 2025 As previously announced, McGregor will play the role of Henry Solness. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for play the role

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Play the role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20the%20role. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!