Synonyms of plays

plays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of play

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

• recreates
• entertains
• toys
• amuses
• rollicks
• sports
• frolics
• jokes
• relaxes
• rests
• dallies
• cavorts
• disports
• delights
• hangs
• pleases
• dabbles
• teases
• romps
• gambols
• skylarks
• frisks
• diverts
• trifles
• loafs
• idles
• dawdles
• hangs about
• goldbricks
• slacks (off)
• jests
• putters (around)
• fiddles (around)
• screws around
• bums (around)
• lounges (around or about)
• messes around

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• works
• struggles
• slaves
• strives
• plugs (away)
• toils
• plods
• labors
• strains
• sweats
• drudges

2

as in performs

to present a portrayal or performance of

played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• performs
• portrays
• interprets
• does
• depicts
• represents
• acts
• impersonates
• enacts
• dramatizes
• renders
• acts out
• pantomimes
• imitates
• overplays
• masquerades
• role-plays
• underplays
• mimics
• takes on
• mimes
• poses (as)
• playacts
• overacts
• hams
• stars (in)
• apes
• clowns
• costars
• coacts

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

• mocks
• imitates
• portrays
• poses (as)
• acts
• impersonates
• masquerades (as)
• personates
• parodies
• copies
• mimics
• performs
• mimes
• monkeys
• apes
• travesties

4

as in idles

to spend time in aimless activity

just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idles
• lounges
• loafs
• fribbles
• hangs about
• tinkers
• fools around
• doodles
• trifles
• putters (around)
• goofs (around)
• potters (around)
• fiddles (around)
• messes around
• dawdles
• monkeys (around)
• hangs (around or out)
• kicks around
• dallies
• lolls
• horses around
• dillydallies
• clowns (around)
• diddles (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sets (to)
• settles (down)
• buckles (down)
• knuckles down

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

• manipulates
• handles
• manages
• addresses
• takes
• treats
• negotiates
• maneuvers
• swings
• contends (with)
• fields
• grapples (with)
• comes to grips with
• pulls
• hacks
• has a grip on
• copes (with)
• engineers
• controls
• carries out
• regulates
• directs
• guides
• steers
• gets off
• carries off
• runs
• finesses
• reacts (to)
• responds (to)
• commands
• brings off
• jockeys
• micromanages

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fumbles
• bungles
• botches
• mishandles
• messes (up)
• muffs
• goofs (up)
• scamps
• louses up
• foozles

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

• puts
• bets
• wagers
• offers
• lays
• goes
• stakes
• gambles
• ventures
• bids
• chances
• speculates
• adventures
• hazards
• endangers
• jeopardizes
• imperils

plays

2 of 2

noun

plural of play

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

• dramas
• works
• musicals
• dramatizations
• comedies
• tragedies
• playlets
• opera
• interludes
• tragicomedies
• melodramas
• adaptations
• musical comedies
• comedy dramas
• monodramas
• psychodramas
• dramedies
• docudramas
• magnum opuses

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

• uses
• exercises
• applications
• usages
• operations
• employments
• exertions
• reuses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disuses
• nonuses

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

• ruses
• schemes
• devices
• tricks
• juggles
• fetches
• dodges
• jigs
• gambits
• stratagems
• shenanigans
• sleights of hand
• wiles
• artifices
• bluffs
• sleights
• knacks
• ploys
• gimmicks
• flimflams
• end runs
• juggleries
• deceptions
• crafts
• duplicities
• feints
• duperies
• trickeries
• cunnings
• subterfuges
• hoaxes
• chicaneries
• swindles
• cozenages
• fakeries
• skulduggeries
• frauds
• smoke screens
• fronts
• legerdemains
• crookeries
• gaffs
• blinds
• shams

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plays

Verb

The military plays only an advisory role in the American system, giving input to the president’s deliberations but not otherwise independently adjudicating whether his or her decision is wise. —Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025

Ahead of Sunday’s premiere, Randolph and actress Ali Larter, who plays Ainsley’s mother on the show, spoke to the Star-Telegram about the Norris family dynamic going into season 2. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025

Weaver plays Grandma Helen, the matriarch of the family and mother of Gavin and Abbi’s deceased father, who was an obsessive hoarder. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

In the movie Babygirl, Kidman plays a CEO named Romy who involves herself in an affair with a much younger intern played by Harris Dickinson. —Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 11 Nov. 2025

For running backs, touches are divided by team plays from scrimmage (not team touches, to be clear). —Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025

Given the vital role the car industry plays in economies around the world, and the jobs, supply chains, and technologies involved, the stakes are high. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025

Moore plays Cami Miller, the wife of a powerful oilman who takes control of his empire after his death. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025

Sustainable innovations Like education, sustainability plays a central role at Texworld. —Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025

Noun

With a wide receiver corps featuring practice squad elevation Ray-Ray McCloud, who was signed two weeks ago, and returner Gunner Olszewski, who has 16 catches in six seasons, Dart still managed to make plays. —Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Cribs, pack-n-plays, high chairs, and bed rails are standard offerings at most family-friendly properties. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025

Achane played 47 of Miami’s 53 offensive plays. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025

But the defense gave up a trio of huge passing plays in the loss, with two going for touchdowns. —Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025

His plays gleefully plumb the wickedest aspects of the human psyche, delivering tales of relentless conquest, Jewish perfidy, deals with the devil, and gay love. —Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025

This year, the Heineken brand expanded its support and is expected to cover nearly two thirds of the plays broadcast this season, compared with just under half a year ago. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025