playing (around)

Definition of playing (around)next
present participle of play (around)
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing (around)
Verb
  • Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Mercedes is truly not screwing around with the new EQS.
    Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
  • What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
  • The lawsuit alleges an unidentified deputy responded by driving to the scene, stopping momentarily, then leaving without ever stepping out of her SUV.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • His father, a billboard magnate, was a stern man who would whip his son with a razor strap for stepping out of line, but the youngster refused to capitulate to his dad’s authority.
    Paul Bond, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playing (around).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20%28around%29. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster