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

Trump will also appeal the case in an effort to wipe his record clean of the 34 felony convictions, which will need to play out over the coming months or even years. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025

After the Heat did not quickly agree to an extension this past offseason, Butler decided to play out this season and exercise his option to become a free agent this upcoming summer. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 Jan. 2025

What happened to the African Americans in Tulsa in one brutal attack was playing out slowly and insidiously in Osage. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Any number of scenarios might’ve played out on that hilltop. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025

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