as in to expand
to use or develop (something) to get something else that has greater value
He hoped to parlay his basketball skills into a college scholarship.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 parlay
On the mound today for the Tigers will be Jack Flaherty, a 2024 World Series winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to parlay his postseason experience into a series win, and a date with the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.
—
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Copeland parlayed a successful 20-year pro wrestling career (where he was known by the ring name Edge) into acting.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Lyon and Stolarz parlayed their one-year success at Florida into starting gigs elsewhere (Lyon in Detroit, Stolarz in Toronto).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Apatow parlayed that success into writing the 1995 film Heavyweights and producing The Cable Guy, starring Jim Carrey, in 1996.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlay
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Copeland parlayed a successful 20-year pro wrestling career (where he was known by the ring name Edge) into acting.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Lyon and Stolarz parlayed their one-year success at Florida into starting gigs elsewhere (Lyon in Detroit, Stolarz in Toronto).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Apatow parlayed that success into writing the 1995 film Heavyweights and producing The Cable Guy, starring Jim Carrey, in 1996.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlay
Verb
-
The nursery did well, so Kids Planet began to expand.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The team plans to expand the research to evaluate inhaler emissions in specific patient groups, such as Medicaid recipients, and to compare clinical outcomes of low- and high-emission inhalers in the same therapeutic class.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Today's top stories The government shutdown is now on day eight, and no end is in sight as Democrats continue to advocate for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Throughout the week, the designers that left a lasting impression created moments that sparked meaningful conversation and demonstrated how fashion’s influence could extend beyond the runway and shape what regular people wear on the streets.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With the right guardrails, integrating AI and other emerging technologies can help boards decode complex issues faster, accelerate upskilling, and enhance decision-making.—
Lara Abrash,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Such access, Su explained, accelerates the development of AI tools in areas like healthcare and emotional support.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The scaffold was additionally shown to boost fusion with the surrounding bone.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In response, Taipei has extended mandatory military service from four months to one year, boosted arms purchases from its top supplier, the United States, and modestly raised defense spending—measures that have met stiff resistance from opposition lawmakers.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Thus, even if a farmer primarily relied on corn for sustenance and/or trade, planting beans and squash alongside the maize increased the nutritive value of the same area.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The alliance should also increase its training with an eye toward degrading or destroying the Kaliningrad facilities should direct hostilities break out.—
James Stavridis,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Any thunderstorms that develop could lead to higher wind gusts as well.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
-
In Mindhunter, the agent interviews Brudos — played by Anderson in season 1 of the series and in season 3 of Monster — to help develop profiling techniques for catching serial killers.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 21st century’s computer generated gore Around the turn of the millennium, filmmakers turned to CGI to augment their fake blood, adjusting the colors or make their splatter physics a little more convincing.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Longoria continued her ivory color scheme with a clutch, and augmented her look with warm tones thanks to her small gold hoop earrings and strappy gold sandal heels.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
More are expected to follow as the shutdown stretches into its second week, with no clear end in sight.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Bassitt, Schneider said, is stretched out enough to pitch in short bursts or log four to five innings.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlay. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share