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

Examples of role-play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Monster Hunter Wilds on PC, PlayStation and Xbox Monster Hunter Wilds is an action role-playing game that's a successor of 2018's Monster Hunter: World. —Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 14 Dec. 2024

The drawbacks of insomniacs are the hours available to analyze a conflict—a convincing script, a role-play of possible opinions. —Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Timed to the 50th anniversary of the role-playing game, the USPS put out a set of commemorative stamps. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024

Hasbro, which owns the role-playing game Dungeon & Dragons, rose 2%. —CBS News, 29 Nov. 2024

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