PLAY OUT Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

play out

verb

Definition of play out

as in to spend

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

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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 out Shamea and Porsha’s passive back-and-forth is a fascinating take on how icing someone out after a friendship falls apart can play out on a show like The Real Housewives. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 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 One example of this messaging disconnect played out on the Upper West Side, in the Democratic primary for the 69th Assembly District. — Bradley Honan, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for play out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play out

Verb

During our time away, our neighbors visited with us at the hospital, looked after our house and came over daily to feed and spend time with our cat.

— Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
American doctors are so conspicuously well-paid that a group of economic researchers spent years trying to figure out why.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

Every one of those calls consumes tokens and touches a system with its own permissions.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Public health data has taught us that alcohol, which can be fine when consumed in moderation, can be harmful to individual and societal health in excessive amounts.

— Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Definition of consume

Verb

Conwell drained a three on his first shot but then missed six in a row, before hitting another three late in the third quarter.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.

— Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

Budweiser's free beer promotion for America's 250th and its own 150th anniversary quickly exhausted its initial $150,000 budget, disappointing many.

— Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
His one non-negotiable is that his players take a similar approach and are exhausted when leaving the pitch.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired an emergency meeting at the weekend and disclosed that national gasoline reserves have been drawn down to uncomfortable levels.

— Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
By contrast, the volume of silicate minerals available to weather and draw down CO2 is much greater.

— Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026

Definition of draw down

Verb

While all game cartridges on the first Nintendo Switch had the entire game natively stored on them, and thus didn't use up your precious internal storage like a digital version would, many Switch 2 game cartridges are actually key-cards.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
Remove dying blooms and seed capsules to prevent unnecessary seed development that can use up the plant’s nutrients and energy.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2026

Definition of use up

Verb

Derived from a Central African shrub, the drug's ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings were uncovered by accident, when Howard Lotsof, a 19-year old addicted to heroin, tried ibogaine out of curiosity in 1962.

— Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Displaying tactical discipline and superior talent, the English national team defeated Mexico 3-2 with a lineup reduced to 10 men on Sunday night.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Often, firming lotions are thick and leave a white cast, but this Olay option, which more than 30,000 buyers have picked up in the past month alone, is lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly.

— Claire West, InStyle, 1 July 2026
For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Definition of absorb

Browse Nearby Words

play (on or upon)

play out

plays

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“Play out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of play out

verb

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