1
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
2
as in performing
to present a portrayal or performance of
played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
At a press conference Wednesday announcing the bill, lawmakers cited studies showing that the cost of playing youth sports has risen by 46% in five years, with many families paying more than $5,000 per child for a single season.
—
Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The 16-year-old Sullivan collected his first career MLS goal, playing a cross to Ben Bender and finishing the return pass to cut the deficit to 3-2.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Durkin started playing football with the Orland Park Pioneers in first grade and was a lineman.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Stephen Huesgen, 56, of Fraser, told Michigan Lottery officials that he's been playing the same set of numbers ever since a trip to Las Vegas decades ago.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
European Film Promotion is playing host at the Cannes Film Festival to up-and-coming European producers, selected for its Producers on the Move program.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
The bittersweet and poignant film, which is also playing In Competition at Annecy next month, features a stellar voice cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Seth Rogen, Samira Wiley and Beanie Feldstein with Abbi Jacobson voicing the lead role of Sarah.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments!
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Paul and Barlow spent several minutes in the second half playing in the frontcourt, giving Nurse options to switch seamlessly while playing small when other Sixers bigs dealt with foul trouble.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The 16-year-old Sullivan collected his first career MLS goal, playing a cross to Ben Bender and finishing the return pass to cut the deficit to 3-2.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Durkin started playing football with the Orland Park Pioneers in first grade and was a lineman.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Stephen Huesgen, 56, of Fraser, told Michigan Lottery officials that he's been playing the same set of numbers ever since a trip to Las Vegas decades ago.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
European Film Promotion is playing host at the Cannes Film Festival to up-and-coming European producers, selected for its Producers on the Move program.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
The bittersweet and poignant film, which is also playing In Competition at Annecy next month, features a stellar voice cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Seth Rogen, Samira Wiley and Beanie Feldstein with Abbi Jacobson voicing the lead role of Sarah.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments!
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Paul and Barlow spent several minutes in the second half playing in the frontcourt, giving Nurse options to switch seamlessly while playing small when other Sixers bigs dealt with foul trouble.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing
Verb
-
Explore options for hiking, sightseeing, and recreating outside of Yosemite Valley—and check the park website for real-time conditions, seasonal updates, and more trip-planning tools.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
-
On this night, that spirit was on full display from families recreating iconic scenes to longtime enthusiasts gathering in celebration of a story that has spanned nearly five decades.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Losing Fried would be a gut punch for most organizations, but with Schlittler continuing his ascension into stardom, the Yankees might be able to continue performing as one of the league’s best clubs without much of a blip.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
Dara performing during a dress rehearsal in Vienna on Saturday.—
Andrew Jones,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Vargas reached out to Charles via a TikTok DM to request a donation, and Charles posted a video on the platform mocking her message.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Three weeks after that self-mocking self-tape, a Mercedes-Benz was waiting outside one of Bournemouth’s student accommodation blocks.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
These palazzo pants are the sleek solution to looking put-together at the airport, walking around a new city, lounging by the pool, and more without sacrificing comfort.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
The video opens with Earle lounging by the beach, basking in the sun.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Your co-parent is managing treatment, uncertainty and the very real fear of how this will affect his relationship with his daughter.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Researchers around the world continue to face difficulties in managing millions of qubits reliably, leading many companies and laboratories to prioritize more achievable near-term applications using systems built with dozens or hundreds of qubits instead of massive large-scale architectures.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Certain federal debts can result in a portion of your Social Security check being garnished, ultimately putting your financial stability at risk in retirement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The age-gap romance is one that Statsky said the writers have been toying around with for quite some time.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The bill is the result of six years of studying and toying around the edges of PBM issues.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
At the same time, a growing chorus of conservative policymakers and activists has begun to question whether the government should pay family caregivers at all, portraying the programs as wasteful and prone to fraud.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Clay Travis also pointed out how Dennis is bad for ESPN’s business by portraying SEC schools and fans as racist.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
