playful

[ pley-fuhl ]
See synonyms for: playfulplayfullyplayfulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. full of play or fun; sportive; frolicsome.

  2. pleasantly humorous or jesting: a playful remark.

Origin of playful

1
First recorded in 1200–50, playful is from the Middle English word pleiful.See play, -ful

Other words from playful

  • play·ful·ly, adverb
  • play·ful·ness, noun
  • half-playful, adjective
  • half-play·ful·ly, adverb
  • half-play·ful·ness, noun
  • un·play·ful, adjective
  • un·play·ful·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use playful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for playful

playful

/ (ˈpleɪfʊl) /


adjective
  1. full of high spirits and fun: a playful kitten

  2. good-natured and humorous: a playful remark

Derived forms of playful

  • playfully, adverb
  • playfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012