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
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Recent Examples of play out
Congress has not fulfilled that obligation, and the consequences are playing out in real time.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
But lucky for this young lady, the game of life doesn’t play out on paper.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
For other premier players, playing out one final season at their current location — should that be her plan — could serve as a distraction.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The rescued played out Saturday in the 660,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play out
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
But lucky for this young lady, the game of life doesn’t play out on paper.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
For other premier players, playing out one final season at their current location — should that be her plan — could serve as a distraction.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The rescued played out Saturday in the 660,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play out
Verb
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This is not fusion, but testament to the world as one big town, as perhaps only a third-culture kid — with Filipino and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and a girlhood spent in the Deep South — would know.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Barker worked at Starbucks and spent every free moment writing and shooting.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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But for humans to consume cow’s milk, those calves are taken away.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
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King warned that the war would devour Johnson’s ambition for a Great Society, consuming the resources meant to relieve poverty here at home.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Weighing in at 710 tons, the sculpture was built to circulate 30,000 gallons of water but has been drained since 2024 in order to have its inner workings assessed.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 May 2026
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Her own growth hasn’t just been paused by the demands of caring for a sick child, it’s been drained by the constant mental load that comes with it.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The starting quarterback competition is coming down to returning players Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall, as Jalon Daniels has exhausted his eligibility and Rice transfer Chase Jenkins recovers from an injury.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
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Diplomacy, economic pressure, and international cooperation should always be exhausted first.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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An economy may run surpluses while households prepare for retirement, then deficits as retirees draw down their savings.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
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The market has also relied on commercial inventories of crude oil and refined products to ease the impact of the supply disruption but those stocks will eventually draw down to working minimums, said Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods in a Friday interview with CNBC.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Besides being a crowd-pleaser, this recipe will use up 3 pounds of extra produce from your garden.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
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The group uses up data on 32 safety measures to evaluate hospitals.—
Eva Flowe
Updated May 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Earlier that year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a sweeping climate change bill with an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and to achieve economy-wide net-zero levels by 2050.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Likewise, in building communities, there must be a priority on preserving green spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods to reduce traffic and car emissions, intentionally designating areas for wildlife habitats, and prioritizing quality of life through parks, trails, and conservation areas.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The law, which will allow buildings as tall as 85 feet in areas zoned for single-family housing, will take effect July 1 only in areas with high incomes and strong amenities, where new housing is more easily absorbed.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Most crashes on Florida roads involve two vehicles, with crumple zones, airbags, and seat belts absorbing the impact.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Play out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20out. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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