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

See Examples For:

play out

The 22-year-old impressed in both games against Czech Republic and also in the rout in Croatia, with one key factor sure to play out in his favour.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

We watch this distrust play out in city council meetings and permit hearings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

You know, I think that this debate can play out in the House and in the U.S.

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026

Now, this is starting to play out in the consumer sphere as Meta Platforms’

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

I’m watching it all play out, like a movie on the screen.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

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