play out

verb

played out; playing out; plays out

transitive verb

1

a

: to perform to the end

play out a role

b

: use up, finish

2

: unreel, unfold

played out a length of line

—Gordon Webber

intransitive verb

1

: to become spent or exhausted

2

: develop, unfold

see how things play out

Synonyms

• absorb
• burn
• consume
• deplete
• devour
• drain
• draw down
• exhaust
• expend
• spend
• use up

Examples of play out in a Sentence

we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal

Recent Examples on the Web

Consider how the Venezuelan presidential election this summer played out on Polymarket. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024

The whole thing played out while students were being let out of school. —Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024

The main storyline plays out in 1962, which is the year the Black Spot burned down, while the book places that particular tragedy in the 1930s. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

The debacle played out on the internet as well as on the famous family's reality TV show. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

play out

verb

1

: to perform to the end

2

a

: to use up or finish

b

: to become exhausted : tire

3

: unreel, unfold