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
5
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
  • Forty-five years after Diana wed the future King Charles on July 29, 1981, in her spectacular gown, her dress designer has recreated the missing veil.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
  • Avalon recreated both images for the front and back cover of Pink Pocket Pistol — with one key difference.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • More recently, Little Feat’s music has been embraced and performed by a new generation of artists that includes Sierra Ferrell, Marcus King, Molly Tuttle and Shakey Graves.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Why Russia Is Expanding Gerbera Usage Many of the missions performed by the Gerbera over the past several months could also be performed by the Geran-2, Russia’s flagship long-range drone.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Golf's media establishment mocked defectors as sellouts and eagerly counted down the days until LIV's collapse.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • In the early 1930s, the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty wrote stories denying the famine that Joseph Stalin’s forced-collectivization policies were causing in Ukraine and mocked journalists who reported the truth.
    James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 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
  • The Strait of Hormuz — which handled around one-fifth of global oil supply before the war — has seen traffic drop to a trickle with sporadic increase in ship transits on positive headlines.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • What expressiveness in the robot changed in participants was how their brains handled the moment.
    Yigit Topoglu, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Roten and her husband are stretched thin, putting renovations of what was supposed to be a starter home on hold.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Moon’s Shadow Returns Published on NASA’s YouTube channel on July 29, the short trailer puts the emotional impact of totality front and center.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In another clip, people competed with harsh winds to set up a tent encampment on a soccer field and children entertained themselves on a nearby jungle gym.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The capital of Nova Scotia boasts things like hands-on learning, outdoor adventure, and unique experiences that will keep the whole family entertained.
    Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • In his sentencing memo, lawyers for the young Haji Zada portrayed him as a mere teenager who was only trying to fulfill the wishes of his older brother-in-law, and not as someone driven by radical ideology.
    Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • Even the Vidiians, a race of aliens who borrow heavily from the David Cronenberg playbook with their frequent body modifications, are portrayed in a resolutely PG way.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 30 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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