play their role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "play their role" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to people taking on an assigned role and fulfilling the responsibilities associated with it. For example, "The members of the team all agreed to play their role and help make the project a success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They know how to play their role.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And suicide terrorism is a drama in which clichés and chance events play their role.

Cornell University

Do they need anything (physical prop/information etc). to play their role better?

Stanford University

Markets need to play their role, but markets alone will not do the job".

The Guardian

Donor funding and government money must continue to play their role.

The Guardian

I think it encouraged the juniors and sophomores to step up and play their role.

The New York Times - Sports

I think all of the Christian bloggers that exist do play their role in that journey.

The Guardian - Books

I would encourage ordinary Scots to play their role in that national debate.

The Guardian

Third, we have to oblige Libyan authorities to exist and to play their role.

The New York Times

They also failed to play their role of responsible citizens by not calling the police".

Independent

But Britain, the US and other western governments need to play their role too, he suggests.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "play their role" to clearly define the expected actions or contributions of individuals or groups within a system or scenario. This helps to establish accountability and promote effective collaboration.

Common error

Ensure that the context clearly defines what "their role" entails. Avoid using "play their role" without specifying the responsibilities or actions expected of the individuals or entities involved to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play their role" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of fulfilling an expected or assigned function. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

23%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "play their role" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey the idea of fulfilling expected duties or functions. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently used across various contexts, including news, academia, and scientific writing, signifying its broad applicability. When using "play their role", it is important to provide clear context about the responsibilities involved to avoid ambiguity. Understanding the nuances of this phrase ensures effective communication and clarity in expressing expectations. Alternatives such as "fulfill their duty" and "contribute their part" can be used to add variety to your writing, depending on the specific emphasis you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fulfill their duty

Focuses on obligation and responsibility rather than active participation.

contribute their part

Emphasizes the act of contributing something to a larger effort.

perform their function

Highlights the specific task or activity that someone or something is designed to do.

take responsibility

Stresses accountability and ownership of tasks or outcomes.

do their bit

An informal way of saying someone is making a small but valuable contribution.

discharge their responsibilities

More formal and emphasizes the completion of assigned duties.

carry out their task

Focuses on the execution of a specific job or assignment.

execute their function

Highlights the performance of a specific function or operation.

serve their purpose

Emphasizes the fulfillment of an intended outcome or goal.

meet their obligation

Stresses adherence to a commitment or requirement.

FAQs

How can I use "play their role" in a sentence?

You can use "play their role" to describe the expected actions or contributions of individuals or groups. For example: "The students need to "play their role" in keeping the classroom tidy."

What can I say instead of "play their role"?

You can use alternatives like "fulfill their duty", "contribute their part", or "perform their function" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "play their role" or "play it's role"?

"Play their role" is correct when referring to multiple individuals or entities. "Play its role" is used when referring to a singular entity.

What's the difference between "play their role" and "take on a role"?

"Play their role" implies fulfilling an assigned or expected function, while "take on a role" suggests assuming a new responsibility or position.