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

The episode’s opening credits play out over a documentary montage of real-life service workers — from chefs and waiters to hotel housekeepers and Zamboni drivers — hard at work at the start of a beautiful day in Chicago. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2024

Each of those trends is playing out in Milwaukee, but on steroids. —Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 27 June 2024

The Heat are coming off a 46-36 season that left them playing out of the play-in round for the second consecutive year. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2024

The race is the latest, and potentially the most high profile, test yet in 2024 of how Democratic divisions over the the Israel-Hamas war are playing out on the campaign trail. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 25 June 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