to playact

Examples

• All

• But why were they playacting?" Again, she shrugged.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Quit playacting.

  The Naked Spur (1953)

• "That was all just playacting, right?"

  Fiction book (2001)

• What if he was playacting?

  Fiction book (2001)

• You know and I know that half this show you're putting on is playacting.

  The Night of the Iguana (1964)

• "When are you going to stop playacting, Jezebel?" he said, as soon as he pushed open the door.

  Fiction book (1994)

• We're only playacting.

  Sextette (1978)

• Oh, stop playacting!

  Jezebel (1938)

• She wasn't seeing somebody she knew playacting.

  Fiction book (1990)

• He watched her set out crackers and cheese, nuts, little napkins, thick matched glasses; she was a child playacting, he thought, eager to be one of the grownups.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

P

to play

vsto playact

∞ 1.0

Act as a character in a stage show, film, or TV show

is specifically about doing that in a theatrical, staged way

P

to perform

vsto playact

583 2.7

To entertain people by singing, acting, or dancing

is narrower, concentrating on acting roles rather than all entertainment

A

to act

vsto playact

375 2.1

Perform a role in a play, film, or show

is narrower, stressing theatrical presentation especially on stage

A

to appear

vsto playact

266 2.1

To perform in a play or film

is more about delivering a role with theatrical manner

B

to be

vsto playact

225 1.0

Act as a character in a play or film

is mainly concerned with theatrical, staged expression of that part

A

to act as

vsto playact

199 2.6

Serve in the role of a person or thing

is specifically about performing theatrical roles for an audience

R

to represent

vsto playact

193 3.9

Act as a character in a play or film

is especially about doing this with theatrical style on stage

P

to portray

vsto playact

118 3.7

To play a character in a film or play

is more narrowly about acting in a theatrical, staged context

P

to play a part

vsto playact

42 2.5

To act in a show or help make something happen

is limited to theatrical role performance rather than general contribution

P

to play the role of

vsto playact

36 3.0

To act as a character in a play or as someone in a real situation

is focused more on stage style and theatrical delivery

E

to enact

vsto playact

27 4.8

To act out a scene in front of people, like in a play

is specifically about doing this as a theatrical actor

A

to act out

vsto playact

24 3.7

To perform a scene or feeling like a short play

is more about formal theatrical role performance than informal display

R

to role-play

vsto playact

7 3.8

To pretend to be someone else to practice acting and speaking in a situation

is aimed at theatrical performance rather than training exercises

P

to play as

vsto playact

• Jargon

7 3.4

To take the role of a character in a video game

is focused on live theatrical acting rather than game roles

P

to play-act

vsto playact

2 6.1

To act out a scene to practice or show how something happens

is focused on staged acting with clear theatrical style

R

to roleplay

vsto playact

2 4.7

Act as a character in a play or drama

is centered on stage acting for audience rather than practice use

How Theatrical

to ham it up

• Informal

4 7.4

to overact

5 5.5

to playact

2 6.7

to act

375 2.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology