1
as in recreates
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 performs
to present a portrayal or performance of
played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in mocks
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 idles
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 manipulates
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 puts
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
1
as in dramas
a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage
we'll be putting on a school play using that stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in uses
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose
the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
the guy at the bar made an unusually creative play to get her phone number
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of plays
Annika Pham, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
George Clooney plays the titular protagonist, a famous movie actor who embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
If a player is a true star, then working personal endorsement deals should be something that the MLBPA can help grow and foster, regardless of the market a player plays in.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The book features a foreword by Del Toro and an introduction by Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Guillaume Marbeck plays Godard, while Aubry Dullin and Zoey Deutch play the legendary co-stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Blunt plays Kerr's former wife, Dawn Staples.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
One possible explanation involves the body’s circadian rhythm (or 24-hour clock), which plays a role in bone health, Lane said.
—Simon Spichak, Health, 3 Sep. 2025
Folate plays a key role in supporting immune function and cell repair.
—Jazmine A. Ortiz, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Jeff Truesdell, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
His history rushing over top guards gives Fangio options to get creative — perhaps even moving a defensive tackle outside on some plays.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
An incredible series of plays, a last-gasp effort, and the fortuitous foot of Matt Prater, the field goal kicker who’d been in Buffalo no more than 100 hours, booting a 32-yarder for the win.
—Coy Wire, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Malik Nabers, meanwhile, made the best of his opportunities, with 5 catches for 71 yards, but Washington’s defense keyed on him all afternoon, frustrating his ability to make big plays.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Daniels left the game after only three plays.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Dos Santos kept the score tied with two big plays in the 45th minute.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Soderstrom had a hitless night but his replacement in left field, Carlos Cortes, had two doubles and one of the best defensive plays of the night.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The Rams marched 65 yards on seven plays, hitting Warren twice.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Star actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson who plays the charismatic chef and ex-convict trying to rebuild his life and reputation, will attend the Spanish event, next to co-writers and producers Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson and Hörður Rúnarsson of Act4.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
George Clooney plays the titular protagonist, a famous movie actor who embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
If a player is a true star, then working personal endorsement deals should be something that the MLBPA can help grow and foster, regardless of the market a player plays in.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The book features a foreword by Del Toro and an introduction by Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Guillaume Marbeck plays Godard, while Aubry Dullin and Zoey Deutch play the legendary co-stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Blunt plays Kerr's former wife, Dawn Staples.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
One possible explanation involves the body’s circadian rhythm (or 24-hour clock), which plays a role in bone health, Lane said.
—Simon Spichak, Health, 3 Sep. 2025
Folate plays a key role in supporting immune function and cell repair.
—Jazmine A. Ortiz, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
For now, the three youngest each sleep in their own pack-and-plays squeezed into their parents’ bedroom.
—Jeff Truesdell, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
His history rushing over top guards gives Fangio options to get creative — perhaps even moving a defensive tackle outside on some plays.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
An incredible series of plays, a last-gasp effort, and the fortuitous foot of Matt Prater, the field goal kicker who’d been in Buffalo no more than 100 hours, booting a 32-yarder for the win.
—Coy Wire, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Malik Nabers, meanwhile, made the best of his opportunities, with 5 catches for 71 yards, but Washington’s defense keyed on him all afternoon, frustrating his ability to make big plays.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Daniels left the game after only three plays.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Dos Santos kept the score tied with two big plays in the 45th minute.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Soderstrom had a hitless night but his replacement in left field, Carlos Cortes, had two doubles and one of the best defensive plays of the night.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The Rams marched 65 yards on seven plays, hitting Warren twice.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays
Verb
-
Get the recipe > Our contributing editor Fatima Khawaja recreates a childhood-favorite salad in this recipe that calls for feta and chaat masala.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
-
On TikTok, the actor, who also appeared in the 2007 and 2008 sequels, often recreates some of the dances from the films.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cece performs elegance, beauty, and perfection while sweating through excruciating pain, enduring enormous levels of judgement.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Podcast topics are selected with the help of AI, based on Google and social media trends, and then the team may launch five different versions of the show with different titles to see what performs the best.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This is why Dijon’s language works best as sound, not narrative—his rangy, raspy voice seethes and triumphs, mocks and threatens; there’s no world in which his polygonal perspective can be discerned from a lyric sheet.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
-
After being told that Dawn is dead, Gaal mocks Demerzel for pretending to grieve, which angers the robot.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
After all, if an attacker hijacks the agent’s credentials or manipulates its input data, the agent could take harmful actions faster and more persistently than any human user.—
Michael DeCesare,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Carlota sees Cherry hiding it, and puts it back in Laura’s room.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Legacy of frog gigging still puts food on the table.—
Jake Allen,
IndyStar,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In China, micro-dramas have overtaken theatrical.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The film, which also starred Mekhi Phifer and Wood Harris, is regarded as one of the great crime dramas of its era.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Professor Russell wrote the core textbook on AI that every computer science major uses.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Across the country, concern has arisen over improper uses of restraint and seclusion causing physical and mental harm — and sometimes even death — to students.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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