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.

Investors need to be able to distinguish “the play-acting from the real stuff.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 20, 2026

At her trial, it is widely agreed the injuries seen in the footage of their visit are self-inflicted and she is "play-acting" and pretending to be semi-conscious.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2024

Competition reality in every form involves a level of play-acting.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2022

Jesse isn’t ghoulishly envisioning his parents’ death or play-acting the hardships of some Oliver Twist fetish, he’s imagining the moment he can tell his tale of woe to a kindly stranger who’ll take him in.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2021

She may have been play-acting the first time, I think, but this time she really did risk her life to save Captain Smith.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone