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
This comes as a Big 12 lawsuit against the university and others, plays out in court.
—
S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Cynthia wants to get down to the bottom of Shamea’s erratic behavior, and the scene plays out like an angsty teen getting sent to the principal’s office.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Less than two miles away, a similarly bustling scene plays out on California Avenue, often considered Palo Alto’s second downtown.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
The thriller plays out from the perspective of both women.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 9 June 2026
In humans with advanced metabolic disease, the same collapse plays out in Charcot’s foot, where the bones of the ankle and midfoot fracture and disintegrate under the weight of a body the metabolism can no longer regulate.
—Joshua Moen, STAT, 8 June 2026
While that plays out, Gomez's term is slated to end June 30.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Of course the Kentucky Derby showed more of the same, but depending on how the race plays out at Saratoga, Pletcher’s charge may not be coming from far off the pace.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
How that distinction plays out may define the next decade of the energy industry.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 18 May 2026
S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Cynthia wants to get down to the bottom of Shamea’s erratic behavior, and the scene plays out like an angsty teen getting sent to the principal’s office.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Less than two miles away, a similarly bustling scene plays out on California Avenue, often considered Palo Alto’s second downtown.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
The thriller plays out from the perspective of both women.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 9 June 2026
In humans with advanced metabolic disease, the same collapse plays out in Charcot’s foot, where the bones of the ankle and midfoot fracture and disintegrate under the weight of a body the metabolism can no longer regulate.
—Joshua Moen, STAT, 8 June 2026
While that plays out, Gomez's term is slated to end June 30.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Of course the Kentucky Derby showed more of the same, but depending on how the race plays out at Saratoga, Pletcher’s charge may not be coming from far off the pace.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
How that distinction plays out may define the next decade of the energy industry.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays out
Verb
-
Inspired by singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith's song of the same name, this film unpacks what happens when a woman spends the week before Christmas alone when her family unexpectedly cancels their holiday plans.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
6 Dec. 2025
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The Federal Trade Commission found the average buyer spends 15 hours on a car purchase — and most of that is spent on pricing.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
6 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
When the algae die and decompose, the process consumes oxygen that fish need to survive.—
Tyler Quattrin,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
-
Reducing the need for permanent port fuel infrastructure To support continuous operations, the platform consumes roughly 16,500 to 17,600 pounds of hydrogen per week, stored in modular, ISO-compatible low-pressure containers integrated into the floating structure.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
High temperatures force a car’s battery management system to work harder to keep the pack cool, which drains energy that would otherwise power the car.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2025
-
Bring it all to life this month by saying yes only to the people, opportunities, and experiences that excite you, and no to anyone or anything that drains your bright light.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
The people most capable of using AI to compress weeks into hours are precisely the people who escalation exhausts.—
Rob Versaw,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
-
Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.—
Jenny Odell,
Longreads,
2 June 2026
Verb
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In a recent bid to boost transparency, Homeland Security announced a broad rollout of body cameras for immigration officers in Minneapolis as the government draws down ICE’s presence there.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
In a recent bid to boost transparency, DHS announced a broad rollout of body cameras for immigration officers in Minneapolis as the government also draws down ICE's presence there.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The future demands a neutral, interoperable and intelligent global trade infrastructure that reduces friction, expands inclusion and restores trust across borders.—
Meelan Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The firm argued that eliminating cooling equipment reduces both upfront costs and operational complexity.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Zinc might reduce how much penicillamine the body absorbs.—
Cynthia Sass,
Health,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Asphalt normally absorbs ~90% of solar radiation, but a thin light-colored coating (only ~100 µm thick) can reflect ~40% of that energy.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But someone willing to engage with Heather is Lisa, who uses this as an opening to talk about how Heather hurt her at Valter’s.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
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Some medications can quietly affect how your body absorbs or uses specific nutrients.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plays out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20out. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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