PLAYS Synonyms: 240 Similar and Opposite Words

plays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of play

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

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as in performs

to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

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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

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as in idles

to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

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as in manipulates

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

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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

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plays

2 of 2

noun

plural of play

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

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of plays

Verb

Dakota Johnson plays a young dancer who finds herself in a German company run by witches, including Tilda Swinton as the austere Madame Blanc. —

Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026 Why Baking Temperature Matters Baking temperature plays a big role in the way cookies spread, brown, and set in the oven. —

Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026 Specifically, the fat in olive oil plays a role in helping your body absorb fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, carotenoids, and plant antioxidants, that are found in vegetables, Rumsey said. —

Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 22 Feb. 2026 Kick You, 2026 BAFTA nominee Rose Byrne plays Linda, a therapist with a child suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal illness, an absent husband, and a literal hole opening up in the ceiling of her home. —

Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026 Scoring also plays a critical role in how well the loaf rises. —

Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026 That doesn’t mean my hair doesn’t get greasy by day three—in fact, that’s exactly what happens—which is why dry shampoo plays a big part in my daily routine. —

Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026 In Muriel d’Ansembourg’s film, Savage plays Lizzie, another adult entertainer who frequently works with Dylan (Andrew Howard). —

Marta Balaga, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026 Norwegian actor Anders Danielsen Lie (Sentimental Value) plays Bill Evans, with Laurie Metcalf and Bill Pullman as his parents. —

Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026

Noun

This jaw-dropping arts center also hosts plays, dance performances, classical concerts, and contemporary music gigs by major names such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Björk, New Order, Paul Weller, and Lorde. —

Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026 Part of his game-ready preparation is keeping his 37-year-old body in peak condition, so Friday when John Collins suffered a head injury, Kawhi Leonard left the game because of stiffness in his left ankle and Bennedict Mathurin fouled out, the plays ran through him. —

Janis Carr, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026 Colorado baseball fans, used to seeing sparkling plays, first by Nolan Arenado, and then by McMahon, could be in for more acrobatics at third base. —

Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026 Bichette saw four innings of work, with the bulk of it coming on those two plays. —

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026 New plays always take revision. —

Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026 These include Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet as well as Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. —

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026 Starting junior guard Mekhi Doby was limited due to a minor injury, so Tinney also turning in some scrappy plays sparked the Spartans (20-4, 15-2), who advanced to Saturday’s regular-season finale at Milwaukee School of Engineering with a share of the conference title on the line. —

Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 Brooding over the human condition, the plays variously acknowledge death, sexism, cruelty, existential dread and the difficulty of finding common ground with your neighborhood barista. —

Celia Wren, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays

Verb

The mineral- and woody-scented blend recreates the scent of breaking waves and driftwood for a result that’s fresh, earthy, and decidedly gender-neutral.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Located in historic Waipahu town, Hawaii's Plantation Village recreates one of the 19th-century sugar plantations that drew immigrant workers from countries like China, Portugal, Japan, and the Philippines, to name a few.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026