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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 July 2025
Messi and Alba practiced with the club Friday in anticipation of playing in Saturday’s match before MLS announced the suspension.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 26 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
Hamill plays a man only known as the Major, the military commander who oversees the Walk and gives the walkers their literal marching orders.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 July 2025
Messi and Alba practiced with the club Friday in anticipation of playing in Saturday’s match before MLS announced the suspension.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 26 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
-
For those seeking relaxation with a partner, the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort offers restorative services lead by cardiologist Dr. Martin G. Bloom.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
24 July 2025
-
There are a series of pools in different temperatures, a Finnish sauna, Eucalyptus and essential oil steam rooms and plenty of indoor and outdoor relaxation areas with fireplaces.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The movie is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese kidnapping drama High and Low, which is loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter).—
Regina Cho,
VIBE.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
That’s how director Yu Je-won described the Studio Dragon drama Love Take Two at a recent press conference for the series.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Mama Cozzi's Buffalo Chicken Dip Deli Pizza Is there anything better than creamy, homemade buffalo chicken dip on game day?—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
-
After navigating spot starts and bullpen games for the first two months of the 2025 season, manager John Schneider finally found a set starting five in June.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Soroka has improved this year due to improved use of his slurve, which he’s thrown 35 percent of the time, holding hitters to a .124 batting average.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Customers who purchased affected items are instructed to discontinue use immediately and seek a full refund at any CVS location.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
No, because the medic — work requirements are a ruse.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
13 July 2025
-
Ben Affleck's Argo is a real film about the ruse of making a fake film to help rescue real-life hostages in Iran.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Fish at Shaw Park Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale will host a fishing fun day at 9 a.m. Friday at Shaw Family Park, 7341 W. Downum Road, in Springdale.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 July 2025
-
And where there is fun in the Bahamas, there is Junkanoo.—
Rochelle Oliver,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Stamos is no stranger to musicals at the Hollywood Bowl.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Fifty-five years ago, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice set out to create a musical that asked a central, controversial question about the central figure of Christianity: what if Jesus Christ wasn’t the Son of God, and was just a man trying to make a difference?—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But in the last few years, the sport has exploded in popularity around the globe.—
Julia Andersen,
CNN Money,
30 July 2025
-
In May, after initially agreeing to defend the sports commission against lawsuits from shooting victims, Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company filed declaratory judgments in federal court, aiming to deny coverage to the sports commission.—
PJ Green
July 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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