playact

[ pley-akt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in make-believe.
2. to be insincere or affected in speech, manner, etc.:

   It's hard to get away with playacting with members of one's own family.

3. to perform in a play.

verb (used with object)

1. to dramatize (something):

   They playacted the movements of a burglar.

Other Words From

• playacting noun
• playactor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of playact¹

1895–1900; back formation from playacting; play, act, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

She’d type out the lines of The Devil Wears Prada as she watched, then hand out scripts to friends to playact in the basement.

From Time

We send our children on Israel trips in which they playact IDF boot camp.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• appear
• bear
• carry
• conduct
• give
• go on
• manage
• operate
• perform
• play
• present
• produce
• quit