as in to expand
to use or develop (something) to get something else that has greater value
He hoped to parlay his basketball skills into a college scholarship.
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Recent Examples of parlay
In a twist that makes perfect sense these days, both coaches parlayed roots in the mid-majors to a spot on the sport's biggest stage.
—
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
In a twist that makes perfect sense these days, both coaches parlayed roots in the mid-majors to a spot on the sport’s biggest stage.
—Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Hewitt wanted to parlay his internship into a career in baseball.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Voros majored in English at Harvard University and hoped to eventually parlay that into a career as an actor in the theater, her first love.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parlay
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
In a twist that makes perfect sense these days, both coaches parlayed roots in the mid-majors to a spot on the sport’s biggest stage.
—Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Hewitt wanted to parlay his internship into a career in baseball.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Voros majored in English at Harvard University and hoped to eventually parlay that into a career as an actor in the theater, her first love.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlay
Verb
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The law will expand background checks for adults living with guardians and create a new Child Welfare Ombudsman, which is an independent advocate inside the attorney general's office to handle complaints and review child welfare practices.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Cooper, who has long served as the host of Call Her Daddy since 2018 alongside her ex-cohost Sofia Franklyn, expanded her podcasting empire into the Unwell Network in August 2023.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Carson Kelly’s three-run home run in the ninth allowed Counsell to stay away from closer Daniel Palencia with the Cubs’ lead extended to six runs.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, oil prices extended recent declines.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The scrutiny of fame has always been dehumanizing, though the ubiquity of the modern-day comment section has surely accelerated and exaggerated its cruelty.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Members of the first group will be fine even as college closures accelerate.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
The Atlantic,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Luna is in your sign, boosting your intuition with lunar grace.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
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Which means teaching an LLM all a company’s secrets could simultaneously boost the business—and risk blowing it up.—
Erik German,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The list of measures in the statement touches on ties that China had suspended in recent years as tensions increased.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Crews also removed a wooden timber debris screen in front of one of the dam's gates to help increase water flow through it.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While Dad is developing photos in his darkroom, Jeremy flicks on the lights.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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DeVito also directed this charming flick that kinda bombed in theaters but developed a following on VHS and DVD.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Some may also use it to augment care on the overnight shift, when staffing may be slimmer.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The truth of those words is manifest in the myriad structures from the Mughal era (1526–1857) that have survived for centuries after the fall of the empire, which at its height stretched across nearly the entire Indian subcontinent.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 Apr. 2026
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Schools in the network will also have a longer school year that stretches further into the summer, student-teachers training to become full-time educators, support staff for teachers during lessons and group instruction and higher compensation.—
Samuel O’Neal
Updated April 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlay. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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