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play the part

VERB
make believe
Synonyms
WEAK
act as if act as though bluff counterfeit dream enact fake fantasize feign fool imagine let on like make as if play play-act playact pretend simulate
Antonyms
WEAK
live reality
VERB
put on an act
Synonyms
WEAK
bluff fake feign invent let on like make up play possum pose pretend simulate
VERB
represent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mean perform produce serve serve as show speak for
STRONG
be betoken body copy embody enact epitomize equal equate exemplify exhibit express factor imitate impersonate personify reproduce stage substitute typify
WEAK
act as act as broker act for act in place of appear as assume the role of be agent for be attorney for be proxy for buy for correspond to do business for emblematize hold office put on sell for stand for steward
Antonyms
STRONGEST
refuse
STRONG
be original differ imbalance oppose reverse stop

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.

During his testimony last week, Musk tried at one point to play the part of his own legal counsel, accusing OpenAI's lawyer William Savitt of asking him leading questions.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

It's more unusual for a US actress to play the part, but Coward actually based the character on an American he'd met at a dinner party in 1921.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

When she does such exercises with clients, Matsis-McCready will often play the part of a frustrated, or emotional, employee learning of a layoff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

Nevertheless, she’ll play the part of the diplomatic CEO whose door is always open.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

I couldn’t for the life of me fathom why my friend, this clean-cut guy who seemed to have no problems in the world, wanted to play the part of Rufus.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers