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
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
Debbie Lund, executive director for Baby's Space, said staff worry about what children could encounter while playing outside.
—
Jason Rantala,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Victor Caratini and Brooks Lee homered for Minnesota, which is 9-17 in interleague play.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
Alex Sarr, who the Wizards took second overall out of France in 2024, will look to take steps forward, while veterans like D’Angelo Russell will also play a role.
—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
Debbie Lund, executive director for Baby's Space, said staff worry about what children could encounter while playing outside.
—
Jason Rantala,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Noun
They are brought together by the school debating society and meet again, eight years after splitting up, with the play moving back and forth between the present and memories of a shared past.
—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Victor Caratini and Brooks Lee homered for Minnesota, which is 9-17 in interleague play.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Verb
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The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
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These series are designed to entertain and intrigue viewers, while letting advertisers spur purchases and sales,.
Verb
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These will be highly specialized agents that sit on top of Anaplan’s applications, capable of performing tasks autonomously for users.
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While humans thrive on ambiguity, context, metaphor and inference, machines generally perform better when information is categorized, tagged, labeled and linked in ways that reduce uncertainty.
Verb
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Within a couple of hours, Wilkins’ replies to the post were flooded with accusations of favoritism, questioning the use of taxpayer funds to book her and mocking her sincerity about being chosen as a performer following high-profile exits from the event.
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The 19-year-old was mocked as a late first-round, early second-round selection.
Verb
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For the ready-to-wear line, Tcherassi created signature striped dresses and cover-ups in deep blue guipure lace perfect for lounging around Capri.
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You are encouraged to sit and lounge and read.
Verb
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This enables robots to identify objects, track movement, plan motions, and manipulate components with a high degree of precision.
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Wang then placed his hands underneath her clothing and began touching her breasts before manipulating her arm to touch his genitals, the suit states.
Verb
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In addition to the fear of deportation, the ruling puts thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work authorization and their jobs, according to a Haitian-American journalist.
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That lawsuit, in part, accuses City Attorney Miko Brown of pushing airport officials to investigate a charter airline's safety record -- not because of genuine safety concerns, but to create legal cover for a city council vote that put $90 million in federal grant money at risk.
Noun
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Emerging neuroscience suggests that silence does more than create relaxation.
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Phil Schiller As for what's next, Schiller says some rest and relaxation.
Noun
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The drama surrounding the Kennedy Center – beyond the performances staged inside – began after Congress approved $258 million to renovate the building.
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Their drama is already stale, and between Nathan’s touchiness and Joe’s mistreatment of women, their fight over who is a better guy, a better seaman, a better worker, a better boyfriend is disengaging at best and aggravating at worst.
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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