PLAYING Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

playing

verb

present participle of play

as in recreating

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

as in performing

to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in mocking

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

as in lounging

to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in managing

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in putting

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 playing Dallas Stadium’s long-term grass future Once engineers figured out that drainage was a major problem in sustaining quality grass indoors, putting down a playing surface for a football, futbol or a soccer game wasn’t that hard. —

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026 Even playing in the large San Francisco market and increasing payroll from $175 million in 2024 to $210 million in 2026. —

Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel was 18 years old and playing for Chivas de Guadalajara’s youth academy the last time Mexico faced South Korea in a World Cup match in 2018. —

Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 Since breaking out as a wide-eyed teenager on the CBS daytime soap Guiding Light and the NBC period family drama American Dreams over two decades ago, Snow has made a career out of playing women whose beauty belies the storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface. —

Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 Sure, there’s a new director (Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter of the original, is taking over for David Fincher) and a new actor is playing Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong replaces Jesse Eisenberg, who turned down the project). —

Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 17 June 2026 His college career began at Indiana, before playing for Cincinnati the past two seasons and then transferring to reigning Big 12 Conference champion Texas Tech in January. —

CBS News, 17 June 2026 Georgia and Florida State had been working toward playing a neutral-site game during the 2028 season. —

Connor Riley, AJC.com, 17 June 2026 The hat trick was the 61st of Messi’s career, his 11th while playing in his national team colors and his first in the World Cup. —

Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing

Verb

Crafted in white gold, the necklace was adorned with a pavé of blue and light blue sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines and diamonds — all brilliant-cut — recreating the depth and movement of the water.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
In 2020, Ramírez reunited with Jon Heder for a Burger King commercial, recreating their iconic cafeteria scene to promote BK's cheesy tots.

— Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026