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

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has a chance to join an exclusive group when his team plays the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. —

Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026 This commitment to efficiency extends into shelter support, where data plays a significant role. —

Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026 Marquis argued that the evolution of men’s fashion also plays a role. —

Miles Socha, Footwear News, 8 Feb. 2026 Lester Speight, the actor who plays Terry Tate, possesses the delivery and timing of a true comic master. —

Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026 The Patriots have increased their blitz rate to generate pressure this postseason, but Darnold generally plays well against the blitz. —

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026 Street design plays a central role in creating, or preventing, that experience. —

Tim Giuliani, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026 The mother of three also revealed that her daughter, Princess Charlotte, isn’t officially involved in rugby, but joins in when the family plays together at home. —

Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026 Many of the background actors are actually nurses in real life – including Ned Brower, who plays ER nurse Jesse Van Horn on the show. —

Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026

Noun

Every frame matters, with 11-man lineups inserted between plays. —

Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 7 Feb. 2026 There were a couple of plays in particular where Hurley thought a foul should’ve been called against the Johnnies. —

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026 Receivers Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Demario Douglas and tight end Austin Hooper also have made plays. —

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026 On that note, while England at that time was strictly sequestered society and enforced attendance at Protestant Church or be brought to court, looking at Shakespeare’s plays, there was this huge counterculture, this cross-current of other beliefs. —

Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026 When the Patriots announced that defensive coordinator Terrell Williams had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Kuhr was tabbed as the stand-in, calling plays and leading meetings. —

Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026 That matchup will prove to be the difference as the Seattle defense and special teams also make some momentum-changing plays. —

Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026 Though plays were his focus in the last years of his life, McPherson says Hayes never truly stepped away from the table. —

Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026 Back in Palo Alto, Campilongo said there are a few new plays in Terun's Super Bowl playbook. —

Max Darrow, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays

Verb

One of the big reasons Sam Neill wanted to do Xfinity's Super Bowl commercial, which recreates iconic scenes from Jurassic Park, was the reunion with costars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
The ad depicts the grandfather in a 1997 Toyota RAV4 taking a ride with his young grandson, who later recreates the moment for his grandfather in a 2026 RAV4.

— Keith Laing, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026