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Definitions

play act

VERB
act
Synonyms
STRONGEST
enact perform play portray
STRONG
burlesque characterize dramatize emote feign ham impersonate mime mimic mug parody personate personify pretend rehearse represent simulate star stooge strut
WEAK
be on bring down the house do a turn go on go over ham it up lay an egg make debut play gig play part play role put it over say one's piece take part tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
direct fail prevent stop
WEAK
abstain cease discontinue give up halt hesitate idle refrain
play-act
VERB
act
Synonyms
WEAK
be on bring down the house burlesque characterize do do a turn dramatize emote enact feign go on go over ham ham it up impersonate lay an egg make debut mime mimic mug parody perform personate personify play play gig play part play role portray pretend put it over rehearse represent say one's piece simulate star stooge strut take part tread the boards
VERB
pretend
Synonyms
WEAK
act assume the role counterfeit dissemble fake feign imagine imitate impersonate make as if make believe make out like make up masquerade mimic play portray pose purport put on put on a front put on airs put on an act represent reproduce sham simulate suppose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

No, the preferred way to play-act "normal American man" is to be a massive jerk.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2025

You know, we—alive today—could play-act some truth and reconciliation–style interaction.

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2023

So you start to just play-act the situation that you're in and see if you can get out of it.

From The Guardian • Oct. 13, 2020

Several times, the kids play-act the old cartoonish “Tom Sawyer” game—in which the rascal tricks his buddies into doing his fence-painting chore—and the reference is apt.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 17, 2018

It had been helpful and even laudable to play-act the chief scenes when the story was beginning, but now they had no time.

From Red Cap Tales Stolen from the Treasure Chest of the Wizard of the North by Scott, Walter, Sir