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
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 May 2026
The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game.
—Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Today, scientists know the thymus plays an essential role in setting up a functioning immune system in childhood, but then starts to rapidly shrink into obsolescence in puberty.
—Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 3 May 2026
Dave and Ike are from Chicago, Scotty MacArthur, who plays Ness, also from Chicago.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Deven Kolluri plays Pontius Pilate as a smooth, smoldering fashion plate.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
So should Soufiane El-Faouzi, also 23, who plays deeper and is more combative, but is no less talented.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.
—Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Mitch Marner and fellow forward Brett Howden specifically answered the bell with big plays.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
His ability to make so many different plays was on display today.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
While Apple shares were up more than 4% in trading Friday, all of the derivate plays were trading in the red.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Conventional decisions can backfire if the right personnel aren’t in place to execute plays properly, and health becomes a key factor as well.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 1 May 2026
He got ejected for arguing runner’s interference, then explained postgame how two similar plays cost him in college.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Concepcion will carry the receiving volume, and Boston will carry the bigger plays and touchdowns.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Alegría directed half of the show’s eight episodes; Urrejola plays the key character of Blanca.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 May 2026
The addition of the guest play-callers, Close and women’s water polo coach Adam Wright, led to a variety of trick plays throughout the game.
—Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Today, scientists know the thymus plays an essential role in setting up a functioning immune system in childhood, but then starts to rapidly shrink into obsolescence in puberty.
—Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 3 May 2026
Dave and Ike are from Chicago, Scotty MacArthur, who plays Ness, also from Chicago.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Deven Kolluri plays Pontius Pilate as a smooth, smoldering fashion plate.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
So should Soufiane El-Faouzi, also 23, who plays deeper and is more combative, but is no less talented.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The Audacity creator Jonathan Glatzer and star Billy Magnussen, who plays wealthy tech CEO Duncan Park, took the stage at Deadline Contenders TV to talk about taking the tech monster lurking in the shadows and those responsible for its existence, and turning it into a comedy.
—Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
Chesney enlisted women’s basketball coach Cori Close and water polo coach Adam Wright to call plays and orchestrate trick plays.
—Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Mitch Marner and fellow forward Brett Howden specifically answered the bell with big plays.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
His ability to make so many different plays was on display today.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
While Apple shares were up more than 4% in trading Friday, all of the derivate plays were trading in the red.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Conventional decisions can backfire if the right personnel aren’t in place to execute plays properly, and health becomes a key factor as well.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 1 May 2026
He got ejected for arguing runner’s interference, then explained postgame how two similar plays cost him in college.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Concepcion will carry the receiving volume, and Boston will carry the bigger plays and touchdowns.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays
Verb
-
These two sections meet, in a sense, in Blue Heron’s moving and surprising climax, which recreates a core scene from Romvari’s childhood — or at least seems to, on the surface.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Take a peek at RetroCast The feature, displaying weather from New York City on Friday, April 3, 2026, closely recreates the look and feel of old-school local forecast segments, opening with a rotating globe-style display before transitioning into a full-screen forecast.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The agent performs investigations related to criminal activity committed by licensed premises.—
Angela Rodriguez
May 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
-
Wishbone flower performs well in gardens, containers, and hanging baskets.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
But her desperation seems exposed at Cupertino, too, where Little Tim mocks her for her dim suggestion that psychotherapists be deployed to the company’s Guangzhou factory to cool down a labor crisis.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
-
While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggi, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But there is a point where the prediction shapes and manipulates the actual outcome.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Searching for inspiration for her next novel, Elise subtly manipulates the people closest to her like characters in a book.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And that last item often puts us closer to those teenage feelings than heartbreak ever can.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
-
The latest poll puts Bianco in third place at 14%, followed by Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge fund founder and environmental advocate, at 12%.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Tracy discusses how his career has evolved to encompass podcasting and audio dramas in addition to traditional TV and film projects.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The juries overseeing the dramas and documentaries in the official selection have also been unveiled.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That’s the point where public water intakes, recreation and other uses could be impacted if a lake drops below it.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
-
Never neglect to pack a roll of duct tape—its uses are nearly endless.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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