play out

verb

played out; playing out; plays out

transitive verb

1

a

: to perform to the end

play out a role

b

: use up, finish

2

: unreel, unfold

played out a length of line

—Gordon Webber

intransitive verb

1

: to become spent or exhausted

2

: develop, unfold

see how things play out

Synonyms

• absorb
• burn
• consume
• deplete
• devour
• drain
• draw down
• exhaust
• expend
• spend
• use up

Examples of play out in a Sentence

we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal

Recent Examples on the Web

Behind them, the brawl for the final two play-off places — to join one of the three aforementioned teams and Sunderland — continued to be played out between Middlesbrough, Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City. —Gregg Evans, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025

At the risk of counting on two games in a row to play out the same way, the pace in Game 1 (86.8) makes the under feel like another safe play tonight after these teams combined for 212 points on Saturday to cash Under 216. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025

The legal showdown over frozen federal funds will likely take years to play out and could end up at the Supreme Court. —Tuanh Dam, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025

What’s odd is watching this all play out under a Republican administration that ostensibly shares the gold bugs’ concerns. —Kelly Evans, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for play out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

play out

verb

1

: to perform to the end

2

a

: to use up or finish

b

: to become exhausted : tire

3

: unreel, unfold