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

This time, there is nothing to process, because we are watching something that has already played out.

From Los Angeles Times

In other words, the model published in the BMC Public Health journal uses real world data and computer simulations to play out how an outbreak might spread in real life.

From BBC

Green guessed that much of this money was being used to gain more exposure to the AI investment theme largely playing out in the U.S. market.

From MarketWatch

Some intriguing irony plays out in the aftermath as the rest of the characters, knowing Daniel is alive, believe Cherry callously left him after the accident.

From Los Angeles Times

How those changes play out at Vienna 2026 will have an impact on the contest's future -- including whether the boycotting broadcasters come back, and if waverers who stayed on board will keep faith.

From Barron's

Related Words

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