as in spends
to make complete use of
we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal
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Recent Examples of plays out
The chapter plays out almost like an extended scene out of a Mike Leigh film.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
In Indonesia, that competition plays out in the clearest terms.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The struggle plays out repeatedly across Chicago.
—Miguel Chacon, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
How the depth chart plays out at the running back spot will be a big question mark going into cutdown day, but Blue figures to factor into the mix at the top for a feature role in the offense.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
The album reflects a small but increasingly apparent divide among Yiddishists, and the Jewish public in general, that often plays out in generational terms.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
In Indonesia, that competition plays out in the clearest terms.
—Lela London, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The struggle plays out repeatedly across Chicago.
—Miguel Chacon, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
How the depth chart plays out at the running back spot will be a big question mark going into cutdown day, but Blue figures to factor into the mix at the top for a feature role in the offense.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
The album reflects a small but increasingly apparent divide among Yiddishists, and the Jewish public in general, that often plays out in generational terms.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays out
Verb
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Google spends billions each year to be the default search engine on web browsers and smartphones.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Camus’ book is split evenly before and after the killing, whereas the film spends more time chronicling Meursault’s life up to the point he’s arrested.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Recycling foil helps reduce waste and minimizes the demand for raw aluminum production, a process that consumes about 95% more energy than recycling existing aluminum and generates significant greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
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Most industrial companies still treat maintenance as purely a cost center, something that consumes resources while adding little strategic value to the bottom line.—
Chris Turlica,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Though Good Boy gets by for a while on the strength of its performances and the sheer oddness of its plot, the flimsiness of its characters drains the film of energy long before its 110 minutes are up.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Holding onto declining practices drains resources from future growth.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The whole ordeal exhausts the mother turtle.—
Taylor Hagood,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The idea of festivals just exhausts me.—
Meg Zukin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This not only reinforces clarity, but also reduces the reliance on employees having to scribble notes word for word to decode later.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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But prorating three years of player profits down to 12 months, as UEFA’s rule does, reduces the immediate efficacy of successful trading in the market, the very strategy that poorer clubs increasingly rely on to climb the ladder.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pollen naturally absorbs less energy in the visible-to-near-infrared spectrum, which are the wavelengths mainly responsible for generating heat.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
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Whole food sources such as beans, bananas, avocado and eggs offer the form your child’s body absorbs and uses best.—
Jazmine A. Ortiz,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Whole food sources such as beans, bananas, avocado and eggs offer the form your child’s body absorbs and uses best.—
Jazmine A. Ortiz,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.—
Robert Birsel
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The spark becomes a blaze, and trust between citizens and the military burns with it.—
Eric Chastain,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
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As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plays out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20out. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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