0 to pretend to be a particular person or to do a particular thing, usually as a game: --
You can't just play at being a mother, it's a lifelong commitment.
The classroom has a home corner where the children can play at being Mummies and Daddies.
The kids have been playing at Doctors and Nurses all afternoon.
He's not really interested in the kids, he's just playing at being the perfect father to impress his parents.
She's still playing at being a professional singer.