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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Relevance

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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

Because all 12 vertebrae of your thoracic spine (middle segment) connect to your rib cage, rib mobility plays a central role in how your spine moves and how forces are managed through your back. —

Dana Santas, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026 Besides being crucial for winter sports events, snow plays many other important roles, said David Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist and a distinguished professor in the Rutgers University geography department. —

Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026 Turner plays the middle brother with intriguing melancholy and an almost alien detachment, which works within the world this film creates, but not necessarily for a main character. —

David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026 Imagine the trash talk that might be transpiring with Lappe on second base talking to Brooks, one of his best friends who plays shortstop. —

Eric Sondheimer columnist follow, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026 With strikeout king Michael Toglia now in camp with the Reds, who plays first base for the Rockies? —

Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026 Obviously, that plays some role in all of this. —

Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026 Agriculture plays a critical role in keeping our communities and our country resilient. —

Joe Dymek, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026 The food—handmade pasta, steak, and seafood—may be the star of the show, but the breathtaking position on the 49th floor also plays a critical role in the overall experience, with skyline views for days. —

Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

Noun

The pair went on to work together on several plays, and then during COVID the pair began writing together. —

Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026 What started in 2017 as a pilot program has blossomed into a robust schedule that includes musicals, plays and magic shows. —

Alyssa Ramos, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2026 Marshall can initiate offense and make plays for others or himself. —

Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026 After Sweden lodged its complaint, an official was stationed at the green line to ensure no further infractions, though any previous plays could not be reviewed for impropriety. —

Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026 Okonedo didn’t know of O’Sullivan and Thomason at all, a consequence of living in the countryside, with the occasional trip into the big city to see plays. —

Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 To create authentic plays, the film’s team consulted with real basketball players, including 19-year NBA veteran Andre Iguodala, who also voices a zebra working as a referee. —

Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026 With Johnson, Blough got a close look at a balanced offense that created plenty of explosive plays. —

Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 12 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

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