play-act
verb
(intr) to pretend or make believe
play-acting
-
a word derived from
play-act.
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
She is full of humor and whimsy, creating every imaginable kind of playful and play-acting partnering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025
All the guns and maps talk was easy for intelligence officials to write off as mere fantasy play-acting, instead of a serious plan.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2021
More importantly, the long awful course of history reminds us how slippery the slope is from play-acting as a strike force to actually behaving as a strike force.
From Slate ● Jan. 8, 2021
Dave was within twenty feet when the play-acting ceased.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
