play 1 of 2

verb

Definition of playnext
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
6
as in to put
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery

Synonyms & Similar Words

play

2 of 2

noun

ˈplā How to pronounce play (audio)
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun play differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun, game, jest, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can fun take the place of play?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of play?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of play?

While in some cases nearly identical to play, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When would sport be a good substitute for play?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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
Verb
Since playing more frequently as a safety, Conner has looked far more comfortable. —Sam McDowell 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025 How to play Fantasy 5 lottery game To play the Fantasy 5 lottery game, grab a California State Lottery playslip — available at any lottery retailer — and select five numbers between 1 and 39. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
There has been some good QB play, however. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025 The play has been widely produced nationwide and internationally has received productions in London, Manila, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, and others. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
  1. perform
  2. lounge
  3. manipulate
  4. put
  5. relaxation
  6. drama
  7. game
  8. use
Verb
  • Hours after Dundee’s Professor Iris Grunwald performed the world’s first remote thrombectomy on a human cadaver, another milestone followed.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Game and network services have performed well in recent quarters thanks to a shift to digital game purchases and the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
    — Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of perform
Verb
  • Tee My wardrobe relies on lightweight T-shirts for travel, lounging, and running errands, but the frequent use means these classic pieces tend to wear down quickly.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Others swear by their high-rise undies for everyday wear, and then there are those who love the ready-to-wear options most, from off-the-shoulder tops to lounge dresses that can be worn both inside and outside the home.
    — Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of lounge
Verb
  • These children are being targeted by extremists Khalid and Juneid—the latter being Yassir’s uncle—who plan to recruit and indoctrinate them into their militant movement, manipulating vulnerable youth with promises of faith and belonging under the orders of a mysterious leader known as Bhaijaan.
    — Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Bode’s comment was strictly in reference to the character of the Wizard of Oz, who uses propaganda to manipulate and deceive his subjects in Wicked.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Johnson’s 55-yard TD run in the third quarter put MidAmerica Nazarene up 31-0.
    — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Younger consumers are, as Veblen might put it, performing taste with efficiency.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of put
Noun
  • Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • They’re marketed as a natural way to reduce inflammation, ease muscle pain, and promote relaxation or sleep post-workout.
    — Ali Nolan, Outside, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of relaxation
Noun
  • The show also made a splash at this year’s Primetime Emmys Awards, winning five — including including outstanding drama series, as well as first-time Emmy wins for Noah Wyle (drama lead actor), Katherine LaNasa (drama supporting actress) and Shawn Hatosy (drama guest actor).
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Betty Harford, the actress best known for her roles on the ABC soap opera Dynasty and the CBS legal drama The Paper Chase, has died.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of drama
Noun
  • Should the Tigers end up missing a bowl game, the noise will grow much louder.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Then Heat forward Nikola Jovic threw the perfect inbounds pass to find Wiggins for the game-winning alley-oop dunk at the final buzzer.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of game
Noun
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • By contrast, Trump’s domestic use of military forces over the past year has more clearly crossed a line by putting the apolitical military in the middle of partisan conflicts.
    — Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Definition of use

Phrases Containing play

Browse Nearby Words

plausibly
play
playact
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on play

Nglish: Translation of play for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about play

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Putting Adjectives in the Right Order

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a pencil broken in half on top of a test answer sheet
Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2 No Number 2 pencil required.
See All