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
Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Civil society plays a key role in helping struggling families during Ramadan.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Storrie’s cool kid realizes his mistake after Dirkus plays him a thank-you song.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
Jisoo is paired with Seo In-guk, who plays her cynical real-world rival.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Jack Hughes plays for the NHL New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Jack Hughes plays for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.
—CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
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
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
Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Women’s History Month gets off to great start this year with a wide variety of plays, concerts and musicals starring women.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Manager Craig Counsell wants Shaw to keep getting those type of non-routine plays in the outfield, especially ones that require him to communicate in real time during the sequence with Crow-Armstrong.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
To find his leading lady, Preminger embarked on a nationwide search and personally auditioned thousands of would-be Joans before landing on Jean Seberg, an 18-year old from Iowa whose acting experience was limited to high school plays.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
He was fined for missing meetings and was benched for a few plays against the Las Vegas Raiders for missing the team bus to the game.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
His 3-point shooting has been inconsistent, and his perimeter defense remains a developmental area, but his ability to affect games without needing plays called for him gives him a potential pathway to a niche role.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Trout lost a ball in the sun, but otherwise handled the other plays.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 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
Verb
The late actor was nominated in the category alongside her co-star Kathryn Hahn, who plays foul-mouthed studio marketing executive Maya Mason in the Hollywood satire.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Civil society plays a key role in helping struggling families during Ramadan.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Storrie’s cool kid realizes his mistake after Dirkus plays him a thank-you song.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
Jisoo is paired with Seo In-guk, who plays her cynical real-world rival.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
Jack Hughes plays for the NHL New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Jack Hughes plays for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.
—CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
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
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
Noun
Sip cocktails while live music plays, then settle in for a top-tier Southern dinner inspired by the setting.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Women’s History Month gets off to great start this year with a wide variety of plays, concerts and musicals starring women.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Manager Craig Counsell wants Shaw to keep getting those type of non-routine plays in the outfield, especially ones that require him to communicate in real time during the sequence with Crow-Armstrong.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
To find his leading lady, Preminger embarked on a nationwide search and personally auditioned thousands of would-be Joans before landing on Jean Seberg, an 18-year old from Iowa whose acting experience was limited to high school plays.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
He was fined for missing meetings and was benched for a few plays against the Las Vegas Raiders for missing the team bus to the game.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
His 3-point shooting has been inconsistent, and his perimeter defense remains a developmental area, but his ability to affect games without needing plays called for him gives him a potential pathway to a niche role.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Trout lost a ball in the sun, but otherwise handled the other plays.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays
Verb
-
In a studio in Accra, Perfectual Linnan, a fashion designer and founder of Roots by Linnan, recreates the fugu fabric into jackets, trousers and tops designed for everyday wear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Designed for manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, and logistics, AEON performs precision tasks such as part manipulation, inspection, asset scanning, and operational support in dynamic environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The linocut medium itself performs this temporal multiplicity.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Today, reality mocks the dream.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The worst thing Isabella does to Cathy is murder the doll version of her after Cathy mocks her feelings for Heathcliff.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 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
-
Just like Rodgers did a decade earlier, Prescott manipulates the flat defender (circled in red) and hits CeeDee Lamb in stride just behind the linebacker.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Throughout the process, the robot simultaneously navigates, avoids obstacles, and manipulates objects without human guidance.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Charles then circles around the cruiser and onto a sidewalk, which puts a barrier of snow between him and Jones, who can be seen standing in the street.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
-
At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Along with the surge at ESPN, Disney’s ABC affiliates drew 10% more viewing than in the prior month, powered by NFL games, broadcast dramas’ post-holiday return and events like New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and The Rose Bowl Parade.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Siljedahl said the appeal of Korean dramas lies in their originality and genre blending.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The company also sees potential uses for the generator outside passenger cars, such as in mobile power equipment or unmanned aerial platforms, further underscoring its versatility.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Nontraditional uses include content creation, sit-down dinners, product launches, album listening parties and workshops.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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