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
While many hadn’t played these kinds of tactical role-playing games outside of Japan before, for them, Final Fantasy Tactics was something very new and different.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The 10 best space RPGs of all time: Explore the galaxy in these stellar role-playing games
Almost a decade later, Star Citizen became the vehicle for Roberts to execute on his original vision for Freelancer.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 June 2025
The twist here is that it’s being seen through the lens of a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game campaign, which makes sense for a play with a flash of magic in it.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
While Sister Agnes reconsidered her relationship with God and Imogen and Peter hallucinated role-play, Masha spent the day putting David through various freezing situations.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for role-play
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Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The 10 best space RPGs of all time: Explore the galaxy in these stellar role-playing games
Almost a decade later, Star Citizen became the vehicle for Roberts to execute on his original vision for Freelancer.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 June 2025
The twist here is that it’s being seen through the lens of a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game campaign, which makes sense for a play with a flash of magic in it.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
While Sister Agnes reconsidered her relationship with God and Imogen and Peter hallucinated role-play, Masha spent the day putting David through various freezing situations.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 May 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 12 Jun. 2025.
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