play 1 of 2

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as in to pose (as)
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

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as in to 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

play

2 of 2

noun

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as in drama
a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage we'll be putting on a school play using that stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in game
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously I didn't mean to insult anyone, for it was all just play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun play differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun, game, jest, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can fun take the place of play?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of play?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of play?

While in some cases nearly identical to play, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When would sport be a good substitute for play?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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
Verb
The Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have played in minor league ballparks this season with all the accompanying financial and aesthetic problems. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025 Rookie Christian Moore has only played in 18 games, but has shown some flashes of brilliance, including a game-tying and then a game-winning home run against the Red Sox late last month. Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
The dribbler by Hernandez traveled four feet, with Wilmer Flores and Bivins unable to make the play. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 July 2025 One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play
Verb
  • Cauley is on her own tour, performing four shows a week in different cities across the U.S., and will be headlining at Zanie's Comedy Club on July 31.
    Laura L. Davis, The Tennessean, 22 July 2025
  • Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at Rogers Stadium on July 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Wear wide-leg linen pants out to dinner, to the beach, while lounging around the house, or even to the office.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2025
  • In our opinion, top-tier attire in this clothing category meets the following criteria: soft and breathable materials and unisex silhouettes that are suitable for sleep, lounging, and even running errands.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • Even a congressional candidate has alleged that humans manipulated the weather behind the Fourth of July weekend floods in Texas, which left at least 120 people dead and more than 170 still missing.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 12 July 2025
  • Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to run malicious code or access other parts of your system by manipulating memory.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Cayley put her deposit down in February and traveled to Turkey in May.
    Hedy Phillips, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • But the 2025 grades put Brookshire Elementary School in Winter Park in an uncomfortable spotlight.
    Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • The magic lives where relaxation meets radical questions.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Several studies suggest that showers provide fertile ground for relaxation and free association—keys for creativity.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • From weddings to birthdays and everything in between, long cakes— typically slender sheet cakes that span anywhere from two to six feet or more — are fast becoming the go-to for trend-forward hosts looking to blend drama with functionality.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • While one of Mandy Moore's favorite roles is Jamie Sullivan in the romantic drama A Walk to Remember, her husband Taylor Goldsmith apparently has not seen the classic 2002 Nicholas Sparks movie adaptation.
    Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • Here are other things that came out of Engelbert’s availability: Engelbert said the WNBA is thinking about expanding its future scheduling footprint as well as the number of games played in upcoming seasons.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 20 July 2025
  • Clark did so even though she is sidelined for the game because of a groin injury.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 20 July 2025
  • That bed, paired with her Disney Princess TV, gets the most use.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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