PLAYS OUT Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

plays out

verb

present tense third-person singular of play out

as in spends

to make complete use of we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 out But some in the city are waiting to see how a separate court battle in Boston over changes to multiple national parks, including the President’s House, plays out for answers. — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 Cook, who has remained in the post while the case plays out, called the allegations a pretext to oust her over monetary policy differences. — Will Dunham, USA Today, 28 June 2026 The heroic death plays out almost as a footnote in an otherwise grim day at sea. — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays out

Verb

If an engineer spends 40% of the day chasing approvals, moving data between systems or completing repetitive tasks, then high-value talent is operating below capacity.

— Priya Sawant, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of spends

Verb

Football sensation Erling Haaland, known for his striking goal record, reportedly consumes 6,000 calories daily, a regimen suited to his intense physical demands and unique metabolism.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Memory-centric computing has emerged as one possible solution because moving data often consumes more energy than the calculations themselves.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Definition of consumes

Verb

In areas with valleys or basins, cooler and denser air drains downhill and pools in low spots overnight, a process known as cold-air pooling.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Make sure to empty any excess water that drains into the saucer to keep the roots from getting soggy.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2026

Definition of drains

Verb

Asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth downplayed concerns that a multi-billion-dollar package could be ‌affected as the United States draws down its weapons stockpiles amid the Middle ⁠East conflict.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 May 2026
The Bulgarian warrant pilot has to clear before any of the $100 million pipeline behind it draws down.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026

Definition of draws down

Verb

The Cohesion 18 sneakers are outfitted with a thick, supportive sole that absorbs impact and offers stability, a rubber outsole for traction, and a sockliner to prevent friction burn and blisters.

— Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
This modeling effect matters more as AI absorbs the routine layer of work.

— Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of absorbs

Verb

To manage operational heat, the hardware uses a thermal strategy that entirely removes mechanical components like fans or liquid pumps.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Now, New Zealand space startup Zenno Astronautics says it’s tested an entirely new type of thruster that, unlike either of those conventional technologies, uses superconducting magnets to maintain a satellite’s orbit and orientation.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026