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
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 played
During their time together, Snead and McVay built teams that have played in two Super Bowls, winning one, and made eight playoff appearances.
—
Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The crowd went nuts because Heidenreich played for the United States Naval Academy.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Saturday’s game was played in a ballpark 2,400 feet higher than Coors Field and where three years earlier the Padres scored 22 runs and had 27 hits in two games.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Maybe if the Knicks played like this from the beginning, this series could have been over in five games.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Front Row Fords almost always have speed on this type of track, which played a big part in why all three drivers had a top-10 finish last year in one of Talladega’s two races.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Arthur would have looked very different had another actor played him, according to the filmmaker.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Suffice it to say that eventually the tale of childhood catches up with the adult Sasha (played by Amy Zimmer), a filmmaker, who attempts to make sense of her past and Jeremy’s fate by undertaking her own investigation, at several decades’ remove.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
One of those people was David Wiley, who Terry Rose played pool with the night Kim went missing.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The crowd went nuts because Heidenreich played for the United States Naval Academy.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Saturday’s game was played in a ballpark 2,400 feet higher than Coors Field and where three years earlier the Padres scored 22 runs and had 27 hits in two games.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Maybe if the Knicks played like this from the beginning, this series could have been over in five games.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Front Row Fords almost always have speed on this type of track, which played a big part in why all three drivers had a top-10 finish last year in one of Talladega’s two races.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Arthur would have looked very different had another actor played him, according to the filmmaker.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Suffice it to say that eventually the tale of childhood catches up with the adult Sasha (played by Amy Zimmer), a filmmaker, who attempts to make sense of her past and Jeremy’s fate by undertaking her own investigation, at several decades’ remove.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
One of those people was David Wiley, who Terry Rose played pool with the night Kim went missing.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played
Verb
-
Some of climbing and kayaking was recreated on sets, but Kormákur also insisted on pairing those with actual locations.—
Emily Zemler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The obituary shared that McLemore was particularly passionate about creating and refining the Big Bob Gibson barbecue sauces, one of which – the white sauce – is so popular that people across the country have recreated it.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of the greatest arias in the genre, performed flawlessly by Jonathan Tetelman.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Blue Origin New Glenn mission on payload Blue Ring’s first mission with initial injection into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), with additional services performed in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Few people had Tate mocked to go this high, especially if Arvell Reese was going to be on the board.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Sources at the premiere’s after-party speculated about whether Wintour had given her famous friends the heads-up that they were mocked in a movie that all of Conde had come up to support.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nearby, people and their dogs who had moved into the shelter for the duration of the war lounged on air mattresses, scrolling through their phones.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Just days after hard-launching her relationship with French filmmaker Romain Gavras, EmRata lounged in a plunging plush white robe while wearing nothing but some sparkling loud luxury accessories.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
James has handled the majority of the play-making responsibilities, had eight turnovers in each of the last two games.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Distribution in Australia and New Zealand will be handled by Umbrella Entertainment.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Spurs led for the entire game and led by as many as 28 points to put the series away on Tuesday.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
More willing to put the collective goal of winning a title above all else.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Kimmel himself entertained at the dinner in 2012.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
For his great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee celebration in 2022, Louis entertained the Queen with his big reaction to the Trooping the Colour flypast.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All four of the Jewish characters in the play are portrayed by Jewish actors.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And Michael Jackson’s former manager, John Branca, who also serves as co-executive producer, is laughably portrayed as the film’s white savior.—
Keith Murphy,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Played.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
