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
Another layer was playing out online, in the form of viral videos.
—
Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
What ensued was a drama that has been quietly playing out between the city and Burdge for nearly nine years.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Dominik Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s standout players in the 3-2 win at Newcastle on Monday, despite playing out of position.
—James Nalton, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
What’s happening in Manatee, said Belanger of the Local Solutions Support Center, reflects a broader strategy playing out in states nationwide, where governors have increasingly preempted local decisions on everything from criminal justice to health care and social policy.
—Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
One ongoing hold-in situation is playing out between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
What ensued was a drama that has been quietly playing out between the city and Burdge for nearly nine years.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Dominik Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s standout players in the 3-2 win at Newcastle on Monday, despite playing out of position.
—James Nalton, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
What’s happening in Manatee, said Belanger of the Local Solutions Support Center, reflects a broader strategy playing out in states nationwide, where governors have increasingly preempted local decisions on everything from criminal justice to health care and social policy.
—Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
One ongoing hold-in situation is playing out between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing out
Verb
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Instead of spending scarce early capital on headcount or agencies, founders can test more ideas, move faster and lower the cost of getting started.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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People are spending more time in the gym; zeroing in on wellness and longevity; and even planning their holidays around fitness and wellness offerings.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Clay-heavy soils under many Michigan roads, especially around Metro Detroit, trap moisture rather than draining it.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Public schools in Florida are funded on a per-student basis, and schools that operate at about half capacity or less typically do not generate enough money to be self-supporting, instead draining the district’s budget.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The carnivore diet is a meal plan that includes consuming only animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs, Fox News Digital has previously reported.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Video is also slower and more time consuming.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gentry had both of those things, but he is headed to the NFL after exhausting his eligibility.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
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Productivity improvements—many already visible—are sufficient to support that level of prosperity without exhausting the planet.—
Chris Bradley,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to federal guidance, all states drawing down child care funds must now certify their fraud prevention measures and provide a strong justification of how funds will be used, including a breakdown by spending category.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The decline in the measure reflected producers drawing down their raw materials inventories at the fastest rate since October 2024.—
Reade Pickert Bloomberg,
Arkansas Online,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The project is based on Ielmini’s preliminary work into closed-loop in-memory computing (CL-IMC), highlighting its potential for faster computation while using up to 5,000 times less energy than digital systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
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Starting in a small section at the top of a wall, wipe the wallpaper using up-and-down strokes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Oatmeal specifically touts many benefits, including being a valuable source of numerous vitamins, antioxidants and fiber; moreover, studies indicate that the biochemical composition of the grain can help improve the gut microbiome in addition to reducing blood glucose levels as well.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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But since then, SpaceX too has worked on reducing the brightness of its satellites.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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No icons nestled between burning candles.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Inside the redesign Fabian Wiesemüller, PhD, co-founder and CEO of FireDrone AG, said firefighters must physically enter burning buildings to spot hazardous materials or missing persons.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20out. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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