play out

verb

played out; playing out; plays out

transitive verb

1
a
: to perform to the end
play out a role
b
2
: unreel, unfold
played out a length of lineGordon Webber

intransitive verb

1
: to become spent or exhausted
2
: develop, unfold
see how things play out

Examples of play out in a Sentence

we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s how tariffs played out under the trade war during Trump’s first administration, according to one paper. Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 June 2025 This shift is playing out at multiple levels: mining equipment priced in BTC, tokenized assets benchmarking against Bitcoin baskets, and emerging DeFi derivatives denominated in sats rather than cents. Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 But the battle also played out on the football pitch. Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025 The 12th national championship has brought the swagger back, and with players who are back from injuries, playing out extra eligibility, transferring in, the roster is 15-deep and freshmen are going to have to develop out of the spotlight the outset of their careers, wait and earn their turn. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for play out

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of play out was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Play out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

play out

verb
1
: to perform to the end
2
a
: to use up or finish
b
: to become exhausted : tire
3
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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