Synonyms of played

played

verb

past tense of play

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

• recreated
• entertained
• frolicked
• toyed
• rollicked
• amused
• joked
• sported
• relaxed
• romped
• cavorted
• rested
• disported
• dabbled
• delighted
• dallied
• teased
• pleased
• skylarked
• gamboled
• frisked
• trifled
• diverted
• loafed
• idled
• jested
• dawdled
• puttered (around)
• fiddled (around)
• hung
• screwed around
• slacked (off)
• lounged (around or about)
• hung about
• goldbricked
• messed around
• bummed (around)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worked
• struggled
• labored
• toiled
• plugged (away)
• strove
• strained
• slaved
• plodded
• sweat
• drudged

2

as in performed

to present a portrayal or performance of

played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• performed
• portrayed
• interpreted
• represented
• did
• depicted
• acted
• impersonated
• rendered
• enacted
• role-played
• dramatized
• acted out
• pantomimed
• mimicked
• imitated
• underplayed
• overplayed
• masqueraded
• mimed
• took on
• posed (as)
• clowned
• aped
• playacted
• hammed
• costarred
• starred (in)
• overacted
• coacted

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

• mocked
• portrayed
• imitated
• posed (as)
• acted
• impersonated
• masqueraded (as)
• personated
• parodied
• copied
• mimicked
• mimed
• performed
• aped
• travestied
• monkeyed

4

as in lounged

to spend time in aimless activity

just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lounged
• idled
• loafed
• doodled
• tinkered
• trifled
• puttered (around)
• fiddled (around)
• pottered (around)
• fribbled
• hung about
• fooled around
• goofed (around)
• messed around
• kicked around
• monkeyed (around)
• dawdled
• lolled
• hung (around or out)
• dallied
• horsed around
• dillydallied
• clowned (around)
• diddled (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set (to)
• settled (down)
• buckled (down)
• knuckled down

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

• handled
• addressed
• managed
• manipulated
• treated
• took
• negotiated
• fielded
• swung
• maneuvered
• hacked
• contended (with)
• grappled (with)
• pulled
• came to grips with
• coped (with)
• engineered
• had a grip on
• carried out
• controlled
• steered
• got off
• regulated
• directed
• carried off
• guided
• jockeyed
• brought off
• responded (to)
• commanded
• finessed
• reacted (to)
• ran
• micromanaged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fumbled
• bungled
• muffed
• mishandled
• botched
• messed (up)
• goofed (up)
• scamped
• foozled
• loused up

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

• put
• bet
• wagered
• gambled
• laid
• offered
• staked
• went
• speculated
• ventured
• bade
• chanced
• adventured
• jeopardized
• imperiled
• endangered
• hazarded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of played

Sony Pictures Classics picked up worldwide rights during the festival, and the film has since played Toronto’s Discovery program. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Unfortunately, the defense hasn’t played all that well, and the offense hasn’t been much better. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Doyle has played all kinds of frightening characters in his five years at Markoff's. — Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Bouanga slammed home a header off a cross played by Sergi Palencia for his 15th goal this season. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

And the Democrats played a trick that gets played in politics at times. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Those emotions certainly were appropriate following Miami’s closer-than-expected 15-10 loss in Minnesota on Sunday, a game in which the defense played valiantly and Ollie Gordon reached the 100-yard mark. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

The reporting on such matters is well-established, in the stories of Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz (played here by Jeremy Allen White) and many others. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Inside, a montage of moments from Northwestern University’s long path to rebuilding its football stadium played across the video screens. — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing played

• played out