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
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Recent Examples of played
Every one of the NFL’s 32 teams has played a regular-season game outside the United States and is signed up to the league’s Global Markets Program.
—
Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Savolainen played a huge role in Finland’s historic run in the 2019 hockey women’s world championship, in which the country made it to the final against the United States who, along with Canada, had previously dominated the competition and its gold medal matches.
—Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
For McCurdy the chance to stay close to home played a big part in his decision along with the approach of the TCU coaching staff.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The hip-hop star’s most notable acting role was co-starring with Snoop Dogg in the 2012 stoner comedy Mac & Devin Go to High School, where Wiz played the character Devin Overstreet.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2026
And it’s set to unlock new strategies on how the game is played.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Finally, there’s Mindy Mango, a farmer and friend of Danny’s, who is played by Coleman’s real-life wife, also named Mindy.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Feb. 2026
Josephine, directed by Beth de Araújo, is named after its 8-year-old protagonist (played by Mason Reeves), who witnesses a violent assault.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
For his part, Ted Levine — having played the character who is also known as Jame Gumb — has conflicting feelings about the movie, despite its success.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Savolainen played a huge role in Finland’s historic run in the 2019 hockey women’s world championship, in which the country made it to the final against the United States who, along with Canada, had previously dominated the competition and its gold medal matches.
—Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
For McCurdy the chance to stay close to home played a big part in his decision along with the approach of the TCU coaching staff.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The hip-hop star’s most notable acting role was co-starring with Snoop Dogg in the 2012 stoner comedy Mac & Devin Go to High School, where Wiz played the character Devin Overstreet.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2026
And it’s set to unlock new strategies on how the game is played.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Finally, there’s Mindy Mango, a farmer and friend of Danny’s, who is played by Coleman’s real-life wife, also named Mindy.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Feb. 2026
Josephine, directed by Beth de Araújo, is named after its 8-year-old protagonist (played by Mason Reeves), who witnesses a violent assault.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
For his part, Ted Levine — having played the character who is also known as Jame Gumb — has conflicting feelings about the movie, despite its success.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played
Verb
-
How are the parodies recreated?—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Other credits include Virtually Parkinson, a podcast that recreated British interviewer Michael Parkinson’s interview style also using AI.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These participants also performed better on tests of overall cognitive function, the report noted.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The entire hardware assembly was completed during the day, with AI training performed overnight.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How about the woman, believed to be a Chicago Public Schools teacher, who mocked Charlie Kirk’s assassination by using her hand like a gun and putting it to her neck?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some also mocked the add-on fees, including higher charges for larger items.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over at the three tiers of pools during a late spring weekend visit, couples in stylish swimsuits lounged around the adult’s only pool, groups of friends sipped margs while wading in the main Mother-of-Pearl pool, and kids frolicked in the separate splash pad area.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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In a series of photos, Lopez lounged in a strapless lilac number featuring a floor-length skirt that looked as if it were made of flower petals.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Wheeled robots handled industrial workflows such as grocery picking, container movement, and packing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The investigation into Bezalel Zini was handled by Israeli police instead of the Shin Bet because of the relationship between the two men.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The couple heard police on a loudspeaker tell someone to put his weapon down and end the situation peacefully shortly before the helicopter arrived.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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McMillan, taken eighth overall by the Panthers in last year’s NFL Draft, put together a rookie campaign with 70 receptions (122 targets) for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Supporters have since shifted to reducing and eliminating interest rates on federal loans, which even some Republicans have entertained.—
Neetu Arnold,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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Neon Grove is the place for kids aged 8 to 12, entertained with activities that include gaming consoles and skee-ball.—
Fran Golden,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In vacating the life prison term in 2024, Cook County Judge Marc Martin found in part that Modrowski had been unfairly portrayed as emotionless and cold during his 1995 trial and sentencing proceedings when the characteristics were likely due to his autism.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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North Carolina legislators accurately portrayed a gap between how many people Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up from Mecklenburg and Wake County jails through much of 2025.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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