playact
Americanverb (used without object)
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to engage in make-believe.
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to be insincere or affected in speech, manner, etc..
It's hard to get away with playacting with members of one's own family.
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to perform in a play.
verb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of playact
1895–1900; back formation from playacting; see play, act, -ing 1
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.
Asked to imitate another person or playact, this kind of bot sometimes veers into areas it was designed to stay away from.
From New York Times ● Mar. 14, 2023
Cable TV dresses up space aliens in he-man drag, making the subtext into text, the way Carlson’s tough talk and aggressive posturing playact a child’s idea of manliness.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2021
As a youngster, Brian liked to playact with the toys he made.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 29, 2020
Do today’s guests want a 19th-century stage set on which to playact high society?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2016
The two of them playact with each other, pretending to be cordial, but only so it will make the final betrayal even sweeter.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
