1
as in recreated
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 performed
to present a portrayal or performance of
played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in lounged
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 handled
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
this is how we're going to play the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of played
Trojans add two to special teams Long snapper Dylan Black and punter Lachlan Carrigan, both of whom played for Memphis last season, each committed to USC out of the transfer portal, rounding out the Trojans’ special teams unit.
—
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Werner has 24 goals in 57 games for the German national team and played in the 2018 World Cup.
—Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed the new head of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, 30 years after Judi Dench played a fictional female MI6 chief in the James Bond films.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 13 Jan. 2026
Snoop Dogg exclaimed before a highlight reel of the best podcast nominees played.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Dino played football for Boston College, per his Instagram.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Of the 15 holes these two teams played that night, eight are included in Tuesday night’s rematch.
—Keith Stewart, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
After coming out of the game briefly three times in the first half, which ended with Boise State trailing 50-29, Meadow played all 20 minutes of the second half and the entirety of the three five-minute OT periods.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
The cumulative weight of all those moments that make up an ordinary life is the subject of this elegiac macro-miniaturist portrait of an itinerant worker in the early 1900s Pacific Northwest, played by Joel Edgerton in what might be the best work of his career.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Werner has 24 goals in 57 games for the German national team and played in the 2018 World Cup.
—Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed the new head of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, 30 years after Judi Dench played a fictional female MI6 chief in the James Bond films.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 13 Jan. 2026
Snoop Dogg exclaimed before a highlight reel of the best podcast nominees played.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Dino played football for Boston College, per his Instagram.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Of the 15 holes these two teams played that night, eight are included in Tuesday night’s rematch.
—Keith Stewart, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
After coming out of the game briefly three times in the first half, which ended with Boise State trailing 50-29, Meadow played all 20 minutes of the second half and the entirety of the three five-minute OT periods.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
The cumulative weight of all those moments that make up an ordinary life is the subject of this elegiac macro-miniaturist portrait of an itinerant worker in the early 1900s Pacific Northwest, played by Joel Edgerton in what might be the best work of his career.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played
Verb
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But the celebration doesn’t end there as the spirit of the Big Easy will be recreated on the streets of Universal Studios Florida for the Mardi Gras parade.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
For the film’s period scenes, designers painstakingly recreated the home’s first and second floors in a studio, including backdrops that wrapped around the replica windows to reflect the exterior view of the times.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For example, Medicare reimburses $1,375 for a colonoscopy performed in a hospital outpatient department — and $862 for one performed in an independent ambulatory surgery center.—
Tomas J. Philipson,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The officers performed lifesaving measures until EMS arrived at the scene.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The 45-year-old's work at the CBS Evening News desk was even criticized by fellow TV personality Megyn Kelly, who relentlessly mocked Dokoupil for crying during a CBS News Miami clip that saw him being interviewed by a local broadcaster and subsequently crying over memories of his childhood.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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Google even subtly mocked the iPhone’s AI shortcomings in ads promoting the release of its latest Pixel phone last summer.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In additional images, Alba lounged by the seashore in two different styles of leopard print bikini.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Patrons lounged in a smoky daze; men wearing fedoras played mah-jongg.—
Dennis Zhou,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The internal combustion side of the powertrain, handled in-house by Ford, will be paired with the Bosch hybrid system currently deployed across the Hypercar class.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
16 Jan. 2026
-
As this is an active investigation being handled by another agency, the Bethel Police Department will not be involved in the criminal investigation and will not comment on specific details at this time.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gonzales said the situation in Minneapolis, with protesters attempting to interfere in federal immigration operations, has put the United States in an inflection point.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Ford expects to put the first few laps on its new Le Mans challenger in Q3, several months before the team’s maiden race in Qatar in March 2027.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), Mirren played Georgia, the wife of crime boss Albert Spica (Michael Gambon), who comes to La Hollandaise to be entertained every night.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
First opened in 1994, Atlantis set the tone for mega-resorts for travelers seeking the comforts of full service experience, alongside a myriad of ways to keep kids entertained.—
Kristin Braswell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As part of the unique treatment — Challis Davy always likes to throw in surprises — some of the artists will be portrayed by actors who will appear throughout the Irvine Bowl outdoor amphitheatre during the shows.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
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An leads the ensemble as Chang Er, a fairy maiden dwelling in the titular lunar residence with her lover Hou Yi, portrayed by Dominick Rustam.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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