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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to perform
to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

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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

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4
as in to lounge
to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
As the normies, Teller and his naive wife, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, feel like kids playing dress-up. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026 That’s the maximum number of games the league can play outside the United States per the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association. —ABC News, 19 May 2026
Noun
Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event. —Jeff Hartman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Trout also scored his 600th Angel Stadium run on the play, the most in franchise history. —CBS News, 20 May 2026 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
  • Catalina suffers from an unspecified mental disability, which Saavedra, who is not handicapped, performs in an arguably inappropriate register of fidgety hands and shifty-eyed glances.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Fighters — draped in elaborate costumes and protective charms believed to ward off injury and channel spiritual power — perform to the beat of sabar drums, emphasizing the sport’s spiritual side, which for many is as important as the fight itself.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 May 2026
Definition of perform
Verb
  • The home extends onto an expansive loggia with plenty of space for lounging and dining beside the heated infinity pool.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
  • Historically, Rostam solo albums are full of pensive and personal moments—reflections on life while taking long walks, weighing conflicted emotions while lounging in bed—and this one is no exception.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
Definition of lounge
Verb
  • In most cases, similar to engine controls, this climate control system can be checked for codes and the various modes manipulated with a scan tool.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
  • This likely created new evolutionary pressure for specialized hand use during tasks such as carrying objects, manipulating tools, or gesturing.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Her team quickly put together a plan to help coördinate repairs, secure new electrical generators, implement a triage system, and organize trainings for staff.
    — Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
  • The Bengals, who at one point trailed 6-1, put the game on ice with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth.
    — Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • Take a cleansing breath in the sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounges stocked with herbal tea and snacks.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • This allows the brain to shift out of constant decision-making mode and into relaxation mode.
    — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Definition of relaxation
Noun
  • While internal drama was brewing, OpenAI's technology continued to advance.
    — Ashley Capoot,Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 18 May 2026
  • Nature is no big deal in Cristian Mungiu‘s superb new drama of systemic order and individual disarray, which takes in the sprawling waters and monochrome mountainscapes of the region with a placidly appreciative eye.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
Definition of drama
Noun
  • The game has already produced seven winners in 2026, including a rapid stretch in late April and early May when four jackpots were claimed in just four days, underscoring how quickly fortunes have turned this year.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 17 May 2026
  • He was taken off for Iago at halftime, and there was no official word about the nature of the injury just after the game.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • Other bills could lead to new relief for small businesses in the future, with lawmakers endorsing the creation of studies and working groups that will look at things like supporting artificial intelligence use by small businesses and tourism.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • Rice is the main food staple for much of the population and most of Myanmar’s rice cultivation is for domestic use.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
Definition of use

Phrases Containing play

Browse Nearby Words

plausibly
play
playact
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Cite this Entry

“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on play

Nglish: Translation of play for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about play

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