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
Federal courts have allowed Cook to stay on the job while the case plays out.
—
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Then again, the Marlins could simply keep Alcantara, see how this season plays out, and revisit his future over the winter.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
If the latter scenario plays out and the Pacers win two or more of their remaining games, the Kings could finish with the worst record, but that is highly unlikely.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those are two key factors courts weigh in issuing TROs, after which a judge gives a fuller consideration as the legal process plays out.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
No matter how Tuesday’s game plays out, this tournament has been a success for Venezuela.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
What plays out in front of outsiders in the clubhouse is hardly a complete glimpse into the inner workings of a team.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Kind of seeing what plays out and all that stuff.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026
Khalil's legal team plans to challenge this latest ruling, which could allow the government to place him once more in immigration detention while his case plays out before an immigration judge.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Then again, the Marlins could simply keep Alcantara, see how this season plays out, and revisit his future over the winter.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
If the latter scenario plays out and the Pacers win two or more of their remaining games, the Kings could finish with the worst record, but that is highly unlikely.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those are two key factors courts weigh in issuing TROs, after which a judge gives a fuller consideration as the legal process plays out.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
No matter how Tuesday’s game plays out, this tournament has been a success for Venezuela.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
What plays out in front of outsiders in the clubhouse is hardly a complete glimpse into the inner workings of a team.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Kind of seeing what plays out and all that stuff.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026
Khalil's legal team plans to challenge this latest ruling, which could allow the government to place him once more in immigration detention while his case plays out before an immigration judge.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays out
Verb
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Orion crew spends first day in space NASA's Orion spacecraft is pictured from one of the cameras mounted on its solar array wings on April 7.—
Mark Osborne,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Biofuels are also increasingly being used to power heavy transport, including aviation, which consumes about 8% of oil globally and where electrification remains a distant dream, while a push is underway to expand biofuel usage in shipping, responsible for about 7% of global oil consumption.—
Nithin Coca,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Flowering consumes a lot of plant energy, and stems that are blooming won’t root well.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s a queerness to Mantello’s vision, including a blurring of gender associations that begins with its leads and radiates throughout, that ultimately drains the drama of its potency.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
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Make sure the water from dehumidifiers and air conditioners drains somewhere that easily dries up.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Apr. 2026
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As the oil blockade quickly exhausts Cuba’s supply of fuel, triggering a series of lengthy, island-wide blackouts, many here are exhausted and are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for fundamental changes in Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 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
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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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Animal advocates have long pushed the city to legalize TNR, saying the practice reduces unwarranted litters, euthanasia and shelter intake while improving the health of feral cats.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
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There’s also a sliding divider that provides a privacy barrier from the aisle and, according to the manufacturer, reduces noise from the galley and bathroom.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Unlike many mineral sunscreens that can sit heavily on the skin, this one absorbs quickly and has a lightweight, smoothing effect.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
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The luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin, producing blue light, which GFP then absorbs and re-emits as green fluorescence.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His signature dish, the popular snack bread cheela, made by lightly frying bread in gram flour, naturally uses less fuel than some treats.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Given that harvesting grapes is time-sensitive, researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have invented a portable optical sensor that uses state-of-the-art machine learning to give winemakers instant information about the ripeness of their grapes, news agency SWNS reported.—
Maureen Mackey , Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plays out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20out. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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