play 1 of 2

verb

Definition of playnext
1
as in to recreate
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to perform
to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to pose (as)
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

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4
as in to lounge
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 to manipulate
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to put
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

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play

2 of 2

noun

ˈplā How to pronounce play (audio)
1
as in relaxation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself it's such a delight to watch the children in their play

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drama
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

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3
as in game
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously I didn't mean to insult anyone, for it was all just play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in use
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
5
as in ruse
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun play differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun, game, jest, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can fun take the place of play?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of play?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of play?

While in some cases nearly identical to play, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When would sport be a good substitute for play?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

How does the noun play differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun, game, jest, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can fun take the place of play?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of play?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of play?

While in some cases nearly identical to play, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When would sport be a good substitute for play?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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 play
Verb
Leave the resort to dine at Sunset Mona Lisa, a neighboring cliffside terrace where Mediterranean-leaning plates play second fiddle to the show-stopping tangerine-pink sunsets. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026 Observant residents such as yourselves will ultimately play a major role in solving this case. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Heat, which has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA’s play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2026 More than 24 hours after the play, with confetti from the Big East championship celebration still clinging to his suit jacket, Geno Auriemma was thinking about that single basket that had little impact on the result of the team’s 100-51 semifinal victory. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
  1. perform
  2. lounge
  3. manipulate
  4. put
  5. relaxation
  6. drama
  7. game
  8. use
Verb
  • By this token, the politician who steals scraps of another’s rhetoric (even if the actual stealing is performed by speechwriters) is derided as if he had been found watching pornography.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Rocket Lab will perform 20 hypersonic test flights The signing of the latest contract is Rocket Lab’s single largest launch agreement yet.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of perform
Verb
  • And for those who want to lounge and nap as much as possible, Costa Rica has plenty of all-inclusive resorts that are conducive to complete relaxation.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Amenities include lush landscaped areas, pools, spas, lounging areas, a pavilion and 14 private boat slips.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of lounge
Verb
  • Research shows that abusers will threaten, harm or kill a beloved companion animal to manipulate and control the people who love them.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • To avoid detection by streaming platforms, Smith spread his automated, manipulated streams across thousands of different songs, knowing that concentrating streams on a single track would be flagged, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Pope hit a monster triple from the corner put the Horns up 75-68 with 1 minute, 29 seconds left and after Vokietaitis final miss, Mark calmly sunk four straight throws down the stretch to keep the Horns in the tournament.
    — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Rubio’s more traditional, interventionist posture has put him front and center on issues such as Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, while Vance has in the past been more closely associated with the party’s noninterventionist wing.
    — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of put
Noun
  • Chen follows her into moments of joy and relaxation.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
  • With its love for happy hour and sprawling beaches, the Florida Keys is perhaps the best embodiment of rest and relaxation in the United States.
    — Teaghan Skulszki, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of relaxation
Noun
  • Your careful attention to detail turns tension into workable plans without drama.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Streisand, who played the neurotic, political firebrand Katie Morosky opposite Redford's WASPy Hubbell Gardiner in the 1973 romantic drama, performed a song and delivered a speech honoring him during the Oscars' In Memoriam segment.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of drama
Noun
  • This would also be a game-changer as conventional air defense systems, like the Iron Dome, can suffer due to bad weather, line-of-sight blocking from terrain, and shorter engagement range due to ground location.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Fans in Chicago watching the second-round game between Illinois and VCA are celebrating to see the Illini book their ticket to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA March Madness tournament.
    — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • Democrats are asking for better identification for federal law enforcement officers, a new code of conduct for those agencies and more use of judicial warrants, among other measures.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of use

Phrases Containing play

Browse Nearby Words

plausibly
play
playact
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Cite this Entry

“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on play

Nglish: Translation of play for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about play

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