as in expanding
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 parlaying
The drinks are the young Trumps' latest foray into the family business of parlaying their name and wealth into new branding opportunities as the president serves out his second term.
—
Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
But early polls have showed Schlossberg parlaying his Kennedy aura, name recognition and attention-grabbing social media chops into a shocking lead, with Bores also in the mix.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Young women with a preternatural knack for social media began flocking to the field, parlaying viral content into high-net-worth clientele, who value their aesthetic as much—or even more—than their planning skills.
—Sheila Yasmin Marikar, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
The guy was a national treasure, and ended up parlaying that fame into acting roles in movies (Red Eye), TV shows (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and hosting gigs (Top Shot).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Deadline is parlaying its industry-leading coverage of the reality television business into a live event.
—The Deadline Team, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
After making a fortune in software and parlaying that into telecoms and a raft of tech ventures, Son is now pivoting SoftBank’s $180 billion war chest into artificial intelligence (AI) with unbridled zeal.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
That didn’t stop him from parlaying his celebrity into raising awareness for ALS, a rare condition for which there is currently no cure.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Robbins broke out as a motivational speaker sensation in the mid-90’s, parlaying his program into transformational programs, immersive experiences and executive education.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
But early polls have showed Schlossberg parlaying his Kennedy aura, name recognition and attention-grabbing social media chops into a shocking lead, with Bores also in the mix.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Young women with a preternatural knack for social media began flocking to the field, parlaying viral content into high-net-worth clientele, who value their aesthetic as much—or even more—than their planning skills.
—Sheila Yasmin Marikar, Air Mail, 2 May 2026
The guy was a national treasure, and ended up parlaying that fame into acting roles in movies (Red Eye), TV shows (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and hosting gigs (Top Shot).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Deadline is parlaying its industry-leading coverage of the reality television business into a live event.
—The Deadline Team, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
After making a fortune in software and parlaying that into telecoms and a raft of tech ventures, Son is now pivoting SoftBank’s $180 billion war chest into artificial intelligence (AI) with unbridled zeal.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
That didn’t stop him from parlaying his celebrity into raising awareness for ALS, a rare condition for which there is currently no cure.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Robbins broke out as a motivational speaker sensation in the mid-90’s, parlaying his program into transformational programs, immersive experiences and executive education.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlaying
Verb
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Layne’s group has pushed county leaders to fund a continuous drug addiction treatment program, expanding access for those who need it both during and after incarceration.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Episode 2 continues that methodology, pairing globally influential artists with scientific inquiry, while expanding the scope of both the artistry and the research.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Orioles made those big moves in signing Pete Alonso and trading for and extending Shane Baz.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Different genes for different cytokines, growth factors or other proteins could be swapped in to target specific diseases of the ocular surface, potentially extending the approach beyond corneal wounds to chronic inflammatory conditions.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Here are six brain-boosting hobbies that are backed by science.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
17 June 2026
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Why mood boosting perfume matters now The trend sits at the crossroads of wellness, neuroscience and beauty.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Australia is accelerating efforts to protect frontline troops from the growing threat of small drones, awarding a contract to defense technology firm OpenWorks under the Australian Defence Force’s Land 156 counter-drone program.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
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ReelShort is accelerating its Southeast Asia expansion with a new strategic partnership with Philippine telecommunications giant Globe, even as founder and CEO Joey Jia says the future of the company extends far beyond microdramas.—
Lin Ying-Hsuan,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
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In the study, which analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collected between 2021 and 2024, researchers say that despite numerous state-level bans on kratom across the nation, its use is at an all-time high and is increasing.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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These whales face increasing threats from climate change and human activity.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
19 June 2026
Verb
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But its plenty capable of managing or augmenting administrative work.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, Training Day revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The agreement imposed limits on Iran's nuclear program to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Rodriguez has been developing the concept for more than a decade, based on drawings and stories created with and for his children.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Data centers are contained in buildings stretching as far as a football field, housing thousands of continually running machines.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 June 2026
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But the Los Angeles pianist still loves stretching out with a small combo.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parlaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlaying. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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