play out

British  

verb

1. (tr) to finish

   let's play the game out if we aren't too late

2. informal (tr; often passive) to use up or exhaust

3. (tr) to release gradually

   he played the rope out

4. (intr) to happen or turn out

   Let's wait and see how things play out

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play out Idioms  

1. Finish, run out, as in This extreme fashion will soon play out , or The tension between factions will surely play itself out by next year . [Late 1500s]

2. Unwind, unreel, as in They slowly played out the cable . Also see played out .

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Example Sentences

At times, they draw that line in different places - Habboo is more instinctively protective of what should remain private while Laing is more comfortable letting even the most personal moments play out on screen.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Watching it play out all over again on screen is starting to feel less like a movie and more like a never-ending reality show.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Those efforts will play out in Orion’s crew module, which has about two minivans worth of living area.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Historically, Netflix has proven its ability to limit churn from price increases, and the most recent hikes are expected to play out in the same fashion.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

She wanted me to play out the string, to find the place where she had stopped and was waiting for me, to follow the bread crumb trail until it dead- ended into her.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

• become
• come to be
• end up
• eventually be
• finish as
• turn out to be