role-playing

American  

[rohl-play-ing] / ˈroʊlˌpleɪ ɪŋ /

noun

1. a method of instruction or psychotherapy aimed at changing attitudes and behavior, in which participants act out designated roles relevant to real-life situations.

2. the modifying of a person's behavior to accord with a desired personal image, as to impress others or conform to a particular environment.

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role-playing British  

noun

1. psychol activity in which a person imitates, consciously or unconsciously, a role uncharacteristic of himself See also psychodrama

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Etymology

Origin of role-playing

First recorded in 1940–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

role-playing

The developer's first big taste of success came in 1998 when it released role-playing game Baldur's Gate, based on Dungeons and Dragons rules.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Chah said: "It's been really good. I've been trying like every single equipment. I'm role-playing being a member."

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Across YouTube videos, video games, VR experiences and TikTok edits, audiences are located inside the environment itself blurring the boundaries between storytelling, role-playing, tourism and online participation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

The company has in recent years attracted more teens and adults with role-playing and trading-card games.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

As I learned more about how these early role-playing games worked, I realized that a D&D module was the primitive equivalent of a quest in the OASIS.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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