playing

present participle of play
1
2
3
as in mocking
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 putting
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

Examples 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 playing The one vocal moment that stood out to me was one of the seven thousand dream sequences where Gaga is belting on a stage with Joker and playing two pianos at once. Samantha Allen, Them, 4 Oct. 2024 But despite dolphins’ playful reputation, their facial expressions during play had never been investigated before, though studies have established that other mammals, like humans and monkeys, communicate with open-mouthed, smile-like expressions when playing. Issy Ronald, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024 According to Hayes & The Heathens, the group began developing the concept of a festival after playing in the small Texas town together, known for its country music scene, back in October 2023. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing
Verb
  • The film follows Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon, with the singing voice of Danny Elfman), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who becomes obsessed with Christmas Town and recreating it in his home world.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024
  • As waters with many uses – drinking to growing food to manufacturing goods to recreating and fishing – the Great Lakes are one of the few places that garner bipartisan support.
    Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The Forest Service has 11 aircraft capable of performing this supervision in California, but only one — an airplane — can do so at night, Freeman said.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
  • While performing in Haikou, China over the weekend, West teased his next album which is tentatively titled Bully.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • South Park also piled on by mocking her in a recent episode.
    James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2024
  • Nasrallah posed as a kind of Che Guevara of the Arab world—mocking his enemies, living mostly underground.
    Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • And take a look at the best leggings on Amazon for exercising, running errands or just lounging at home.
    Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
  • The back deck looks out over the forest, and there’s also a pool for swimming, lounging, or simply admiring (at a certain point for city-dwellers, pools become such a novelty).
    Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Ensuring Ongoing Value One challenge in switching to a subscription model is managing customers’ expectations around ongoing value.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • From building an online presence to managing client relationships and marketing your services, digital tools are your best friend.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • These good Samaritans respond to rescue calls at any hour of the day, often putting their own safety at risk.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Allen Media Group, the owner of TV’s Weather Channel and 27 TV stations, is putting Nielsen in a closer embrace after giving the measurement giant a colder shoulder last year.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • In the aftermath, the white planter class weaponized the religious aspects of the rebellion, portraying Black people as savage, predatory, and dangerous.
    Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús / Made by History, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Anti-Voodoo rhetoric stoked fears of Black people in New Orleans and other Southern cities, portraying the religions as evil instigators of slave rebellions.
    Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús / Made by History, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • This can also prevent an attacker from manipulating stack variables to gain code execution.
    Davey Winder, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Some are of a distinctly violent nature, while others get under our skin for manipulating their children and abusing their power.
    Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near playing

Cite this Entry

“Playing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on playing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!