play God

verb

To act in ways commonly associated with or reserved for God, especially by scientific means, such as exercising omnipotence or excessive control over life and nature.

“With all due respect, professor, do you really think that playing God and researching human immortality is a wise idea?”

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Meanings

verbplay God (third-person singular simple present plays God, present participle playing God, simple past and past participle played God)

present singular third person plays God · participle present playing God · participle past played God · past played God

  1. derogatoryintransitiveusuallyTo act in ways commonly associated with or reserved for God, especially by scientific means, such as exercising omnipotence or excessive control over life and nature.

    With all due respect, professor, do you really think that playing God and researching human immortality is a wise idea?

Translations

Catalan jugar a ser Déu
  • jugar a ser Déumake life-and-death decisions
Italian giocare a fare Dio
  • giocare a fare Diomake life-and-death decisions
Japanese 神を演じる
  • 神を演じる (kami wo enjiru)make life-and-death decisions
Portuguese brincar de ser Deus
  • brincar de ser Deusmake life-and-death decisions
Russian играть в Бога, играть Бога
  • играть в Бога (igratʹ v Boga)make life-and-death decisions
  • играть Бога (igratʹ Boga)make life-and-death decisions
Spanish jugar a ser Dios
  • jugar a ser Diosmake life-and-death decisions
Cite this entry
APA

play God. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20God

MLA

“play God.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20God. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “play God,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20God.

Source: play God on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.