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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of play
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Hale plays Officer Popkey, a school cop, who takes his job way too seriously.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
James Boyd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Receivers couldn’t finish plays.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
Demand for these, along with other offerings like Corning’s specialty glass products, plays a critical role in powering data centers, as big technology companies spend billions upon billions of dollars to outfit them to handle AI workloads.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Hale plays Officer Popkey, a school cop, who takes his job way too seriously.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
That trust between play caller and playmaker could come in handy Sunday, with Denver DC Vance Joseph, known for his aggressive schemes, likely ratcheting up the pressure on Jones and forcing quicker decisions that could make Jones rely more on Warren to beat it.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Receivers couldn’t finish plays.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Verb
-
This is when your liver is so scarred up that there’s barely enough normal tissue to perform the routine functions of the liver.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Scientists performed dental exams and took blood samples — participants also filled out dietary questionnaires.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even the arm and backrests are adjustable to provide the maximum amount of comfort while lounging.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The kitchen is great for entertaining with an easy flow out to the alfresco dining and lounging areas alongside the infinity-edge pool, all with unobstructed views of the horizon.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In this approach, quantum information is encoded in various properties of photons, and computation is performed by manipulating these photonic states using optical components.—
Gil Press,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Tahoe is obviously getting more aggressive with icon-shape enforcement, up to and including automatically manipulating them and sentencing them to icon jail.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Karl Maybach’s greatest contribution to the wonders of European civilization were his enormously powerful diesel engines that gave birth to the very first high-speed trains of Europe, emphatically putting steam trains out of business.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Studies put misread rates between 10% and 35%, depending on conditions.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Krylon has chosen Matte Coffee Bean, an earthy brown that the company says signals relaxation and wellness.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Given that this is south Florida, there’s a heavy focus on wellness and relaxation, with many of the amenities playing to those who care deeply about their health and fitness.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hugo kept his cool as his crew became increasingly ensnared in Solène’s machinations and managed to keep a respectable distance from the interpersonal drama of the boat.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Tillman joins the company of Viola Davis, who became the first Black woman to win lead actress in a drama in 2015, and Billy Porter, the first openly gay Black man to win a lead acting award in 2019.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even if the recovery leans toward the shorter end of the timeline, Coulibaly will need a ramp-up before returning to game action.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Solid foods are not subject to the rule, so anything is game, from a few slices of NYC pizza to rellenitos from Guatemala.—
Jessie Beck,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Facial redness reduced by 14% with one application, and 52% after 12 weeks of daily use.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Joseph Gladney, 26, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter with an enhancement for personal use of a firearm in the shooting death of 25-year-old Vinson Bragg, as well as a charge of threatening to kill another half-brother who lived in the family home.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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