plays 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of play
1
2
3
as in mocks
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
5
6
as in puts
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

plays

2 of 2

noun

plural of play

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays
Verb
  • The exhibition recreates the Israeli music festival with items salvaged from the scene and witness testimonies, while asking participants to seek the return of the hostages taken at the festival.
    Martin Vassolo, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Phil Hoad recreates the story for us with a great sense of pacing and style, taking in not just the main elements of the tale, but expanding his aperture to explore the larger treasure-hunting subculture.
    Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The video shows soldiers shooting, apparently randomly, while another performs the customary reading of the Book of Esther.
    Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually, with 97% of establishments passing, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As Princess puts it, if a family of four is booking one stateroom, the kids sail free.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Hughes says the study puts the political attention on this group into perspective.
    Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The producer behind a number of hit shows from Grey's Anatomy to Scandal is back with a series that combines her love for White House dramas and crime.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In addition to March Madness and sports events, TBS airs various TV programs, including comedies, dramas, and sitcoms.
    Monica Mercuri, StyleCaster, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But the story never leaves us with a sense that anything is incomplete, as Shear eloquently portrays the ways that near-misses can still feel like cataclysmic life events.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The actress that portrays Vanessa, Lauren Buglioli, has been working steadily since the mid-2010s, with guest appearances on series like FBI and the Dynasty reboot (which also featured Goings), and films like Jessica Lange's The Great Lillian Hall and the horror anthology film Horror Noire.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The scientists believe the breakthrough will bring the world closer to hardware that not only detects the world but also interprets it, much like natural systems.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
  • And the judicial branch interprets the law, settling disputes between Congress and the president.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Part of Historic Garden Week's uniqueness is that each club manages its individual tour, including selecting the homes and providing staffing on its tour date.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
  • But How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies manages that magic trick.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Adaptive grip tech As part of a National Science Foundation grant focused on soft, shape-retaining materials, researchers at UC San Diego had already explored the potential of measuring tape for robotic applications.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Designed for real-world applications, the robot is integrated with an advanced control system.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Apr. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Plays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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