to pretend that an imaginary situation or event is really happening

In the psychotherapy group, patients were free to play out their fantasies. 在心理治疗小组里，病人可以尽情地沉浸于自己的幻想中。

If a situation plays itself out, it develops until nothing more can happen, and it is no longer very important.

We were forced to stand back and let the crisis play itself out. 我们被迫置身局外，让危机自行消退。

When a situation plays out, it happens and develops.

The debate will play out in the media over the next week or two. 近一两个星期内，辩论将通过媒体播出。