as in spending
to make complete use of
we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal
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Recent Examples of playing out
The Summer House scandal playing out on Bravo.
—
John Ross, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Jo and Naomi McPherson were playing out of mini amps.
—Katie Gavin, Time, 8 May 2026
Congress has not fulfilled that obligation, and the consequences are playing out in real time.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
For other premier players, playing out one final season at their current location — should that be her plan — could serve as a distraction.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The contest is playing out more than a year after the devastating Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
And look how that little narrative is playing out in Minneapolis right now.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
And with some options strategies now playing out over a single day, the line between trading and betting can get thin in a hurry.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
The event is at the heart of a sprawling legal battle, playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing The Deb, a feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
John Ross, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Jo and Naomi McPherson were playing out of mini amps.
—Katie Gavin, Time, 8 May 2026
Congress has not fulfilled that obligation, and the consequences are playing out in real time.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
For other premier players, playing out one final season at their current location — should that be her plan — could serve as a distraction.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The contest is playing out more than a year after the devastating Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
And look how that little narrative is playing out in Minneapolis right now.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
And with some options strategies now playing out over a single day, the line between trading and betting can get thin in a hurry.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
The event is at the heart of a sprawling legal battle, playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing The Deb, a feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing out
Verb
-
Charging documents allege 45-year-old Kelley Ann Haley used the club's debit cards for hundreds of unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals between 2019 and early 2025, spending the money on personal expenses, including travel, shopping, and utility bills.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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That's unfathomably more than in the past election, when spending on the races totaled less than $1 million.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Shane Lowry has the distinction of draining one of the more memorable putts in recent golf history.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Grow crocosmia in moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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King warned that the war would devour Johnson’s ambition for a Great Society, consuming the resources meant to relieve poverty here at home.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
-
Matters involving architectural reviews and approvals can become particularly contentious and time consuming for homeowner associations, especially in large communities.—
Nicole R. Kurtz,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Martinez on Thursday did not discuss details of the plan but said the city was exhausting all its options while seeking more ways to cut costs.—
Abby Church,
Houston Chronicle,
30 Apr. 2026
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In some ways, the Wolfpack were already destined for a reset, with veterans like Tre Holloman, Darrion Williams, Quadir Copeland and Ven-Allen Lubin all exhausting their eligibility.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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China has continued to purchase Iranian oil during the conflict, analysts say, still importing well over a million barrels per day last month – drawing down stock from floating storage already in Asia and unaffected by the US naval blockade of Hormuz.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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Since the start of the war, the United States has exported over 280 million barrels over nine weeks, drawing down the country's strategic petroleum reserves in the process.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Try to find homes for these items under cabinets, in the pantry, or other places where they can easily be accessed without using up countertop real estate when not in use.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
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This single observation suggests that, during strong wind conditions, each rotor would contribute about 1 MW of propulsion, even when using up its own 20 kW of spinning power.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, facilities at public parks and libraries close at nightfall, greatly reducing the number of bathrooms available.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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In the surgical procedure, a v-shape of the lower lid is removed thereby shortening the area and reducing the defect.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Maps show where the wildfires are burning across Florida and Georgia.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The video shows stunned drivers making a break for it after the firework went off, even though 77 was still partially burning.—
Joe Bruno,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20out. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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