1
as in recreated
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in performed
to present a portrayal or performance of
played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in mocked
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in lounged
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 handled
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
this is how we're going to play the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of played
When Doncic played for the Dallas Mavericks and led them to the 2024 NBA Finals, his two centers — Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford — were exceptional in their roles as lob threats, blocking shots and rolling to the rim.
—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The rivalry is so intense that overnight in Mexico, fans played instruments, sang, and made as much noise as possible outside the Ecuador team hotel to deprive the squad of sleep.
—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Heat president Pat Riley said in April that games played will be important factor moving forward in free agent decisions.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Most recently, Danson has starred in the Netflix comedy series, A Man on the Inside and has played himself in the quintessential comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which recently concluded its 12th and final season on HBO.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
30 June 2026
Harmon played Gibbs for 18-plus seasons on NCIS, departing a few episodes into the 2021-22 season.
—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2026
The Smith Family Foundation has played a leadership role in Trenton, New Jersey, for a decade.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
28 June 2026
This time green and red shared the spotlight as Algeria played Austria in a Group J match, the final one that determined who would advance to the knockout stage.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 June 2026
Montgomery played a role offensively in the bottom of the seventh when the Sox tied the score.
—
Lamond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The rivalry is so intense that overnight in Mexico, fans played instruments, sang, and made as much noise as possible outside the Ecuador team hotel to deprive the squad of sleep.
—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Heat president Pat Riley said in April that games played will be important factor moving forward in free agent decisions.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Most recently, Danson has starred in the Netflix comedy series, A Man on the Inside and has played himself in the quintessential comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which recently concluded its 12th and final season on HBO.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
30 June 2026
Harmon played Gibbs for 18-plus seasons on NCIS, departing a few episodes into the 2021-22 season.
—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2026
The Smith Family Foundation has played a leadership role in Trenton, New Jersey, for a decade.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
28 June 2026
This time green and red shared the spotlight as Algeria played Austria in a Group J match, the final one that determined who would advance to the knockout stage.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 June 2026
Montgomery played a role offensively in the bottom of the seventh when the Sox tied the score.
—
Lamond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played
Verb
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Higgins also recreated Zendaya’s iconic tennis ball heels from the Challengers press tour.
-
Shooting took place across Ho Chi Minh City and Orange County and Los Angeles, California, in April 2025, with the bulk of the wartime sequences captured on Vietnamese soil rather than recreated on a studio backlot abroad.
Verb
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Among the hundreds of surgeries performed over three decades by ElAttrache, his patients include the four 2024 MLB most valuable player and Cy Young Award winners — Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal.
-
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery reports that the average number of hair restoration surgeries performed per member in the past year is 178.
Verb
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That single test would have stopped Tank Day before a designer ever mocked up a poster.
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On Wednesday, Smith mocked the team's trade for Walker Kessler, pairing him with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Verb
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In the living room, a tabby cat with a clipped ear lounged on a velvet couch, her front paws propping open an illustrated catalogue of military aircraft.
-
The couple giggled between kisses and lounged on a red-and-white picnic blanket while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Verb
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But the Colorado legislation, signed into law in May, allows the state to pursue the types of cases typically handled at the federal level, such as those involving allegations of discrimination and harassment.
-
The Dodgers have praised how Tucker has handled his struggles in the first year of a four-year, $240 million deal.
Verb
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In addition to the fear of deportation, the ruling puts thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work authorization and their jobs, according to a Haitian-American journalist.
-
That lawsuit, in part, accuses City Attorney Miko Brown of pushing airport officials to investigate a charter airline's safety record -- not because of genuine safety concerns, but to create legal cover for a city council vote that put $90 million in federal grant money at risk.
Verb
-
Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
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Multiple clips from the show entertained the Annecy audience, all of which carried the high energy fans would expect.
Verb
-
Critics have portrayed the idea as anti-religious and ahistorical ever since the Supreme Court embraced it in 1947.
-
Only in these United States can the progeny of people once portrayed as parasites and invaders side with those making the same argument about the latest batch of newcomers.
Cite this Entry
“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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