played

past tense of play
1
2
3
as in mocked
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
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6
as in put
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 played The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026 Wallack’s critique was echoed by former Beach Commissioner Saul Gross, a real estate investor who has played a significant role in Art Deco district preservation and whose Streamline Properties is on Washington. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Marcus Garrett bumped knees with a KSU player in the first half and only played nine minutes, scoring five points. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 In total, Boozer played eight games and 229 minutes this July. John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Julian Dennison stars as the troubled Ricky Baker, a kid who ends up on the run with an irascible old man, played by Sam Neill. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Not even an hour had been played and Spain was deservedly 2-0 up. Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Boundaries of good and evil are blurred even further with the introduction of Batman’s most iconic villain, The Joker, played by Heath Ledger, who died before the film was released. Lea Tran, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played
Verb
  • In 2023, the young Kennedy recreated his grandfather’s famous three-mile swim near the Solomon Islands in Oceania.
    Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 July 2026
  • Collins opted for a warm-weather look, wearing hers with linen shorts, a sports bra, and an oversized button-down shirt that can easily be recreated.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Last year, The All-American Rejects performed at the Fandom Party, SPYAIR and Denzel Curry headlined the Crunchyroll Anime FanFest, and GI Joe’s Cold Slither debuted.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • That so many teams were capable of winning races showed how well the crews performed, especially considering the breeze was again blowing strongly across the Solent, around 17 knots and sometimes gusting over 20.
    Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Verb
  • Instead of treating her and Povich’s pregnancy struggles with care, the pair were widely mocked in the media and on late-night shows, including on In Living Color, which had premiered on Fox in 1990.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • Fans rightfully mocked the dancing cars mounted on robot arms that played during an inexplicable diversion on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Studio Tour.
    Robert Niles, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Emily Ratajkowski lounged on a beach in Spain with her 5-year-old son Sylvester Apollo Bear wearing a tiny animal print bikini.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 23 July 2026
  • In the center, a cluster of tortellini lounged in a pool of truffle-flecked butter sauce.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Tyler Mahle pitched six-plus scoreless innings, and the bullpen handled the rest.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • Headline figures such as tasks completed, queries handled or hours saved can look impressive while concealing errors, rework, poor customer outcomes and escalating operating expenses.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • Supporters highlight the other types of revenue data centers bring in and credit the incentive with helping Texas become a leader in the industry, but opponents say the tax break is unnecessary and puts business over people.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026
  • Willow pinned Thekla and Skye Blue put Thekla’s foot on the rope.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • In Homer’s Odyssey, xenia was upheld by the king of the Phaeacians, Alcinous, who entertained the shipwrecked Odysseus and provided him with comforts as well as a ship in which to sail home to Ithaca.
    Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
  • These clips will keep kids entertained and maybe even teach them something.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The Howard University alumnus portrayed Black icons Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and James Brown on the big screen.
    Lindsay Good, NBC news, 23 July 2026
  • Collins, the Republican chair of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, has portrayed herself as someone who has a direct line to the administration despite representing a blue state.
    Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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