role player
1
3.3
- noun
- /roʊl ˈpleɪər/
:
actor
- Even the role players—Michael Turner, Darren Sproles, Chris Chambers—had fun skills worth watching.
Examples
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Unfortunately, he enters into this uncertain contract season as a role player.
Blog text (3) -
A true role player must be wise because he must see the world as it is and understand the necessity of playing roles.
Academic text (1999) -
However, the much-maligned quarterback has been far more than a role player in San Francisco's success.
Blog text (2) -
He's won a championship as a starter next to Shaquille O'Neal inside and on the bench as a role player behind Chris Bosh and others.
Blog text (2) -
I think Splitter's a fine, reliable role player, but if you're relying on him in the playoffs to protect at the rim, it probably won't work out well.
Blog text (3) -
Given his offensive deficiencies and the fact that he's returning from a wrist injury, it's anyone's guess if N'Diaye will ascend beyond being a good role player to the point where he consistently carries the team on both ends of the court.
Blog text (22) -
The role player took the stage and brought their character to life in the school play.
-
In the film, her role player skills were evident as she seamlessly transitioned between scenes.
-
The director praised the role player for effectively portraying their part in the dramatic production.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A person who acts in plays, films, or television
590
1.0
A woman who performs in plays, films, or television
36
2.2
A person who acts on stage in theatre shows
16
7.6
A person who acts in plays on stage
12
3.9
An actor who plays memorable supporting roles, often unusual characters
5
1.6
A person who plays roles in films
4
6.5
A person who has a small role in a film or play
3
3.4
An actor who plays a small but important role in a film or play
1
3.4
A person who appears in films or on television
A person who plays a character in a play or film
An actor who travels to different towns to act in plays
A travelling actor who performs plays in different towns
A person who acts in a very dramatic, showy way
Antonyms
How Prominent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'a person who plays a role' is directly and compositionally derived from 'role' (the part an actor plays) + 'player' (a performer). This straightforward noun+noun compound follows common English word-formation patterns and remains predictable even when applied to gaming contexts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it.
Etymology
The noun role player comes from the simple image of someone who 'plays' a role on stage; the player is the person acting that part and saying the lines. So a role player means 'an actor' who performs in a play or film.