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
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Recent Examples of play
Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2025
Bands play weekends, and the weeknights feature the usual run of bar promotions such as a trivia contest on Tuesdays and karaoke Wednesdays.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
Injuries were rife across the roster, ineffective play from veterans was a real concern and the goaltending was a question mark.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
Nick Blake, Steve’s son, committed to play for Williams and Maryland next season.
—Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2025
Bands play weekends, and the weeknights feature the usual run of bar promotions such as a trivia contest on Tuesdays and karaoke Wednesdays.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025
Noun
That has been the hardest thing about doing this play.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
Injuries were rife across the roster, ineffective play from veterans was a real concern and the goaltending was a question mark.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Verb
-
This has forced the library system to pay a contractor $1,500 per month to power-wash the area outside the branch twice a week during the morning hours after previously relying on in-house personnel to perform the task.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
-
What companies will actually perform the work to mine the seafloor?—
Victor Vescovo,
Time,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
He could also be seen climbing and lounging in trees placed inside his room.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
21 May 2025
-
The group exchanged stories and lounged until 3 a.m. Jordan Collins bought a ticket for storytelling at Jai after hearing about it on Inm’s social media.—
Lina Abascal,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
All platforms manipulate users to keep them scrolling.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2025
-
Attackers can design prompts that insert malicious instructions through seemingly innocent prompts, manipulate the model to reset its understanding of its role or subtly influence the model's output by feeding misleading information or context.—
Etay Maor,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
The last time Florida put a zero on the board through three periods?—
Adam Beasley,
Miami Herald,
17 May 2025
-
Today, one extraordinary dining concept can put an entire region on the map for our clientele.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Here, guests will find nail therapy rooms with zero-gravity chairs, a hydro therapy room, a med-spa room, and a relaxation room.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
-
The Pisces moon cools your jets, setting the stage for relaxation and reflection.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Two months earlier, Lee — one of the unforgettable leads of Bong’s multi-Oscar-winning drama Parasite — had been one of Korea’s biggest and most beloved movie stars.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
-
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has a lot of unresolved drama to explore.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
An’s game of choice, Apex Legends, is a particularly taxing one.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
-
There are seven such tilts this year, with all but the Brazil game set to air on NFL Network.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
The first assistant director, David Halls, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
20 May 2025
-
This sediment record reflects both natural climate variation and the profound impact of human land use, especially during the rise and fall of the Maya civilization.—
Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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