PLAY OUT Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

play out

verb

Definition of play out

as in to spend

to make complete use of we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 out Window closing to find survivors These are the kinds of scenes playing out across La Guaira state, with people milling around in the streets after being left homeless, uncertain of what to do next. — Fernando Narro Roman, NPR, 28 June 2026 Cook, who has remained in the post while the case plays out, called the allegations a pretext to oust her over monetary policy differences. — Will Dunham, USA Today, 28 June 2026 How does this play out in the employment market? — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 These same dynamics are now playing out in litigation over social media and youth mental health. — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for play out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play out

Verb

The feature can analyze account balances, transactions, spending patterns and upcoming payments, helping users understand their finances without manually checking multiple banking apps.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
In reality, 19 was a stressful and lonely time, spent mostly in the libraries of my frigid college town or fighting with my boyfriend in the dining hall.

— Vrinda Jagota, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

When soil or other outside material sinks to the bottom of a lake, microbes consume oxygen to break it down, leading to the production of methane, a potent planet-heating gas.

— Connie Hanzhang Jin, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026
About 44% of GLP-1 users report consuming more functional beverages, according to EY-Parthenon's third annual survey of more than 3,600 current or former GLP-1 users.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of consume

Verb

The brain wound was cleaned and drained before surgeons patched up his skull.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Crews started excavating the site Wednesday, once utility workers had drained water and cleared other hazards, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

This heats the air dramatically, expanding it and exhausting the hot gas at a much higher velocity than normal.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
That message resonated with Israelis exhausted by years of war, among them Hila Asayag, 49, whose son has served in Gaza and Lebanon.

— Lior Soroka, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Rising healthcare costs are forcing some older Americans to draw down retirement savings or consider skipping medication, making affordability a major concern for a highly motivated voting bloc.

— Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
Under these conditions, lower and middle income households are experiencing pronounced strain, forcing some low income families to draw down savings to cover basic living expenses.

— , CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of draw down

Verb

On Tuesday, the county board approved a number of transfers, totaling a little under $600,000, to use up the remaining funds the county has to spend by the end of the year.

— Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
That batch was quickly administered and another 70 doses sent in June were used up within 10 days, said Tarsisio Biryeija, a nursing officer working as a counselor at Mbarara Health Centre IV.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of use up

Verb

Others accused the governor of reducing the death penalty sentences to seek an advantage in the 2028 presidential election.

— Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Limiting electric boost primarily to these high-power phases reduces the amount of battery capacity—and battery weight—the aircraft must carry.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

The scale-rich designs absorbed sudden, violent impacts without buckling, offered a massive range of tunable stiffness, and successfully cushioned delicate objects embedded deep inside them.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
The state can also avoid large increases in uncompensated care that hospitals may not be able to absorb as Medicaid supplemental payments to hospitals have also been cut.

— Stan Soloway, Boston Herald, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of absorb

Browse Nearby Words

play (on or upon)

play out

plays

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Style

“Play out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20out. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of play out

verb

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