1
as in to recreate
to engage in activity for amusement
told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to perform
to present a portrayal or performance of
played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to pose (as)
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to lounge
to spend time in aimless activity
just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to manipulate
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
this is how we're going to play the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in relaxation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself
it's such a delight to watch the children in their play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drama
a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage
we'll be putting on a school play using that stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in game
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously
I didn't mean to insult anyone, for it was all just play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose
the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
the guy at the bar made an unusually creative play to get her phone number
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of play
Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Remember Nick Bolton’s reaction to play-action?
—Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
During the 31-21 loss to the Bills, the Dolphins appeared to have a few instances when various members of the defense looked to not understand the play call until just seconds before the snap.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
The beloved player teammates call Sasha will also miss playing for his native Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy next February in addition to the whole of the NHL season barring a recovery miracle.
—Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Remember Nick Bolton’s reaction to play-action?
—Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Critics fear abuse of power in play The indictment drew instant criticism from Democrats.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
During the 31-21 loss to the Bills, the Dolphins appeared to have a few instances when various members of the defense looked to not understand the play call until just seconds before the snap.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Verb
-
The reggaeton star’s ability to perform entirely in Spanish while topping charts globally has rewritten the rules of what mainstream success looks like.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Just players performing the task at hand and being aware of certain situations.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the action took place, the fashionable crowd lounged on the beautifully landscaped outdoor dining area, grazing on the pies and taking pictures of the sea.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Bomber jackets are seemingly always in style, but the 48-year-old actress gave it a cozy upgrade, opting for a teddy material that’s soft enough to lounge in yet elegant enough for the red carpet.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Julie asked Jimmy Heagerty about where things stood with Mickey Lee, and Jimmy said Morgan did a great job manipulating Mickey into sending him home.—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
-
With its flexible solvers, Newton allows developers to simulate complex, real-world tasks ranging from walking on snow and gravel to manipulating fragile objects like cups and fruit.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The production came just in time to help the Angels (72-88) put a serious dent in the Astros’ chances of going to the playoffs.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Robot boot camps to drive change To put that into perspective, its most significant rival in this area, the United States, currently only deploys around a tenth of that a year.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s hoping her time away allows the singer some rest and relaxation after too many hours in the spotlight.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Hamilton Chaise Sectional Sofa Made from a soft polyester blend, this couch has deep seats designed for ultimate relaxation.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The other drama was in the SEC.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Bon Appetit, Your Majesty has been one of the biggest Netflix hits of the fall season, drawing in Korean drama fans with a winning combination of period romance and culinary adventure.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Between season-ticket sales, student tickets, community outreach and marketing promotions, SDSU distributed nearly all of the tickets to 32,500-seat Snapdragon Stadium leading up to the Aztecs’ game two weeks ago against Cal.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
DirectStorage speeds up game load times, making the most of modern hardware.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still, some industry critics have said Peloton's equipment isn't appropriate for gym settings because the machines can't handle higher frequency use, which prompted the company to create a more durable lineup.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Leadership in batteries, robotics and automation brings economies of scale and deep R&D pipelines that can be redirected toward military use.—
Rebecca A. Fannin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share