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

While the remaining lawsuits have yet to fully play out, the DOJ likely faces less-than-sympathetic judges in these cases.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

For Innuendo Bingo - which Mills claimed Prince William was a fan of - the DJ would play out innuendos while Stark and a celebrity guest tried to keep their mouths full of water.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

We have a whole report discussing how it’s going to play out.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 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

Arnold was very laid-back and had a way of making the incredible sound almost sane, so I felt good about how that scene would most likely play out.

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

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