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
Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Everyone plays a role The week before spring break was a special-occasion-puzzle Friday with a cookie prize for the first girl and first boy to answer correctly.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Air service plays an outsize role in the nation's most expansive state, where most communities rely on flights for year-round access.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
But the human doctor still plays the absolute most important role.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
On my headphones plays the music of Gilberto Gil, upbeat and carefree.
—Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2026
Organizers say the money raised plays a critical role in supporting children facing serious illnesses and their families.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Jonathan plays piano with unusual introspection and carries an interpretive voice that balances clarity, tenderness, and conviction.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Williams attended the Oscars solo without his Heated Rivalry co-star, Connor Storrie, who plays Shane’s love interest, Ilya Rozanov.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Mar. 2026
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2026
Stojaković said coaches have talked to him a lot about making winning plays that don’t necessarily show up on stat sheets, such as crashing the boards to help another player snare the rebound.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Fox produced scores of plays over the years.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
Expect some growing pains, but also some big plays in between.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The large patio and easy beach access offer some kid-friendly flexibility, and pack ‘n’ plays are available.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Towards the end of March, there will be lots of new plays and performances premiering across North Texas.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Had the Broncos remained static offensively, there is no way Webb would have received a fair shot at calling plays.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Hood is a fiery, aggressive press corner who features the size (6-0, 193), speed and physicality to make plays in a man-heavy scheme.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
Air service plays an outsize role in the nation's most expansive state, where most communities rely on flights for year-round access.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Everyone plays a role The week before spring break was a special-occasion-puzzle Friday with a cookie prize for the first girl and first boy to answer correctly.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Air service plays an outsize role in the nation's most expansive state, where most communities rely on flights for year-round access.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
But the human doctor still plays the absolute most important role.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
On my headphones plays the music of Gilberto Gil, upbeat and carefree.
—Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2026
Organizers say the money raised plays a critical role in supporting children facing serious illnesses and their families.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Jonathan plays piano with unusual introspection and carries an interpretive voice that balances clarity, tenderness, and conviction.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Williams attended the Oscars solo without his Heated Rivalry co-star, Connor Storrie, who plays Shane’s love interest, Ilya Rozanov.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
Ian James, Jayden Reid and Zorhan Bassong are players Wicky hopes to have back by the time Sporting next plays.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2026
Stojaković said coaches have talked to him a lot about making winning plays that don’t necessarily show up on stat sheets, such as crashing the boards to help another player snare the rebound.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Fox produced scores of plays over the years.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
Expect some growing pains, but also some big plays in between.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The large patio and easy beach access offer some kid-friendly flexibility, and pack ‘n’ plays are available.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Towards the end of March, there will be lots of new plays and performances premiering across North Texas.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Had the Broncos remained static offensively, there is no way Webb would have received a fair shot at calling plays.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Hood is a fiery, aggressive press corner who features the size (6-0, 193), speed and physicality to make plays in a man-heavy scheme.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays
Verb
-
Mackenyu takes us to Loguetown and Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop, where his character recreates a scene from the anime involving a cursed sword.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The old-school charm inside the small restaurant recreates the feeling of dining in your grandmother’s kitchen, with bentwood chairs, mismatched dishes and big platters of rib-sticking dishes being passed around crowded tables.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gardner also performs her own material, mining her life.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The community is on the brink of collapse – until Elias’ estranged brother Joosua returns from prison and performs a miraculous healing.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Loznitsa neither sentimentalizes nor mocks this impulse; for him, the human will to resist, to cling fast to integrity and courage in the face of a mounting totalitarian horror, is something as real, as undeniable, and therefore worth acknowledging, as the horror itself.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 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
-
Reinhart’s Apple is a deliciously deadly mystery wrapped in sequins and pure unadulterated attitude, as Tung’s Pumpkin subtly manipulates the group to get to the bottom of a past incident that weighs on her personally, despite her new friends being oblivious to her true identity.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The film is being released as newsrooms shrink, the mainstream media consolidates and social media manipulates the meaning of truth.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The show, which puts a funny twist on the classic tale of Dracula, is filled with comedy and romance, and that romance can be seen both onstage and off.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The moody Moon tugs at vigorous Mars, resulting in a square that puts pressure on your wary 8th house and your typically more light-hearted 5th house.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At its 2026–2027 new series launch at Hong Kong FilMart on March 17, the studio unveiled a sprawling slate that straddles prestige long-form dramas and a rapidly expanding microdrama division, signaling a dual-track strategy aimed squarely at Asia while keeping one eye firmly on global audiences.—
Faye Bradley,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Any fan of medical dramas would know the scene well.—
Michael Tedder,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in recent years, Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, beyond the levels necessary for most non-military uses.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Some bakers find that adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk approximates buttermilk’s acidity adequately for their uses.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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