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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Midthunder, who starred in 20th Century’s Predator movie Prey, is playing the young woman.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
But Gronnemark is not alone in feeling that an approach geared around set plays, lengthy stoppages and restarts threatens to take a lot of the energy, excitement and enjoyment out of matches.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Verb
Douglas Dulgarian began making noise as TAGABOW in 2017, playing house shows and releasing early cassettes like 2017’s Sweater Curse.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Midthunder, who starred in 20th Century’s Predator movie Prey, is playing the young woman.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bella Tarantino scored the lone goal as Hanover edged Plymouth North 1-0 in Patriot League play.
—Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
But Gronnemark is not alone in feeling that an approach geared around set plays, lengthy stoppages and restarts threatens to take a lot of the energy, excitement and enjoyment out of matches.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Noun
-
From delicious room service to luxury linens, booking a five-star hotel conjures feelings of rest and relaxation.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
-
My masseuse began with a consultation to assess my pain points and specific areas of focus before 60 minutes of pure relaxation ensued.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After a week of North Carolina and Bill Belichick facing serious drama during their bye, the 2-3 program is getting set to travel to play California on Friday night.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Liu Yi Media, founded in 2022 by author Mo Jian Shao Ye, produces over 20 original short dramas a month and holds a library exceeding 500 titles.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Participants will learn the basics of Dutch oven cooking and how to prepare various recipes, some that include wild game meat.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Still, the pass-game prowess is notable given the revolving door at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The region has seen the deployment of the National Guard and Marines, the cancellation of public events and a visible chilling effect on the use of local businesses and services.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Their uses include promising methods for cleaning up toxic pollution.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the ruse hits a snag when Taylor's boss (Tia Mowry) starts to question Hugh Mann's credentials, and Taylor starts dating the son of the resort owner (New Amsterdam's Ryan Eggold).—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
My office was among those that were subjected to this ruse.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tractor hayrides, a petting zoo, face painting and live entertainment are on deck while the kids can also go trick-or-treating with the local businesses, which participate in the fun.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
-
This is not easy information for a kid to digest, and the filmmakers don’t always make their heavy themes as fun and palatable as in a Pixar flick.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Jordan spoke about the iconic tale being transformed into a musical in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in February 2024.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Directed by Bill Condon, the film is an adaptation of the 1992 musical by Terrence McNally, itself an adaptation of the 1976 play by Manuel Puig.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Together, their 33-piece collection is an expression of two Sohos, built around ideas of Americana, prep, and sport but anchored in traditional British flair; in short, the perfect fall capsule.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
13 Oct. 2025
-
But music has underscored the former Bronx Bomber’s journey from the beginning, its duet with sport carrying him to serious success in two disciplines that seem impossible to align.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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