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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in performing

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

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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

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as in lounging

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in managing

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

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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

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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 The Cubs went from playing in 100-plus degree weather for over a week in Arizona to wind chills in the upper 20s on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field in their 6-2 win over the Angels. —

Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 These are the public spaces that guests mill about in—sipping a berry cooler at the long bar, enjoying a glass of malbec and a read by the stove, or playing monopoly at the communal table. —

Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026 Jakucionis, the Heat’s first-round pick in last year’s draft, has now received two straight DNP-CDs (coach’s decision) after playing in 22 straight games. —

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026 Gene Gallerano is glad to have a movie playing close to home. —

Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026 As Okongwu later pointed out, playing hard equals better defense and rebounding. —

Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026 Three players on the Ryder Cup committee — Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Bradley — are playing in the Masters, the first major of the year. —

ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 Before heading to the launchpad, the astronauts were seen standing around a table in the operations building, in their orange suits, playing a card game — something one former astronaut said is a way for the crew to lighten up before the big moment. —

Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026 Some of the best musicians in America spent substantial portions of their lives busking on sidewalks or playing for free in grimy bars. —

Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing

Verb

Reske appears uninterested in fetishizing or recreating his past, and that’s probably for the best.

— David Glickman, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
His reputation for meticulous period work will be central to recreating the world Wong Howe inhabited across more than five decades in Hollywood, from the silent era through the Golden Age of cinema.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026