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
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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
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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
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
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
the candidate played on the voters' prejudices
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as in to exploit
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means
played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit
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as in to toy (with)
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously
please don't play with the telephone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of play
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Rookie Christian Moore has only played in 18 games, but has shown some flashes of brilliance, including a game-tying and then a game-winning home run against the Red Sox late last month.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
The Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have played in minor league ballparks this season with all the accompanying financial and aesthetic problems.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Rookie Christian Moore has only played in 18 games, but has shown some flashes of brilliance, including a game-tying and then a game-winning home run against the Red Sox late last month.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
The dribbler by Hernandez traveled four feet, with Wilmer Flores and Bivins unable to make the play.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Noun
-
The magic lives where relaxation meets radical questions.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Several studies suggest that showers provide fertile ground for relaxation and free association—keys for creativity.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
From weddings to birthdays and everything in between, long cakes— typically slender sheet cakes that span anywhere from two to six feet or more — are fast becoming the go-to for trend-forward hosts looking to blend drama with functionality.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
Humes famously portrayed Gail Leery, the mother of titular character Dawson Leery (played by James Van Der Beek), in the hit teen drama, which aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Sosa had a two-run single in the seventh to help the Sox reach double digits in scoring for the second straight game.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
20 July 2025
-
Saturday's sports schedule delivers with UFC 318 and a full slate of MLB games.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
20 July 2025
-
That bed, paired with her Disney Princess TV, gets the most use.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
The scammers could also use your account to scam others out of money with the same verification ruse for passengers and drivers.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
The elaborate ruse was likely an effort to steal cryptocurrency, which Lazarus has become known for.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Make fun of the obsessiveness of Method Acting all you like, but Phoenix’s performance in Eddington is unlike any other in his career.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
That's not long enough to earn the cachet of other performance sub-brands, like BMW's M or Mercedes-Benz's AMG, but N has certainly developed a reputation for fun, attainable, and powder-blue cars.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
On London's West End, a musical of the 1990s movie Clueless also started running this year, with a plot that takes its cues from Austen's novel Emma.—
Robbie Griffiths,
NPR,
20 July 2025
-
Cygnet Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical about love, betrayal and changing times in the early 1900s Oklahoma Territory.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Women’s sports, especially basketball, are experiencing a remarkable surge.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Smith’s deal highlights how, in today’s unmistakably commercialized era of college sports, universities are explicitly prioritizing revenue over all other forms of verifiable success.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.
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