toy
Americannoun
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toys
plural
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an object, often a small representation of something familiar, as an animal or person, for children or others to play with; plaything.
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a thing or matter of little or no value or importance; a trifle.
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something that serves for or as if for diversion, rather than for serious practical use.
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a small article of little value but prized as a souvenir or for some other special reason; trinket; knickknack; bauble.
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something diminutive, especially in comparison with like objects.
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an animal of a breed or variety noted for smallness of size.
The winning terrier at the dog show was a toy.
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a close-fitting cap of linen or wool, with flaps coming down to the shoulders, formerly worn by women in Scotland.
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a simple, light piece of music, especially of 16th or 17th century England, written for the virginal.
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Obsolete.
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amorous dallying.
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a playful or amusing act; diversion; pastime.
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adjective
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made or designed for use as a toy.
a toy gun.
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of or resembling a toy, especially diminutive in size.
verb (used without object)
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toys,
present (3rd person singular)
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toyed,
past participle, past
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toying
present participle
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to amuse oneself; play.
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to act idly; or with indifference; trifle.
to toy with one's food.
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to dally amorously; flirt.
noun
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an object designed to be played with
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something that is a nonfunctioning replica of something else, esp a miniature one
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( as modifier )
a toy guitar
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any small thing of little value; trifle
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something small or miniature, esp a miniature variety of a breed of dog
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( as modifier )
a toy poodle
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verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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toysimple
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toyssimple
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have toyedperfect
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has toyedperfect
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am toyingprogressive
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are toyingprogressive
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is toyingprogressive
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have been toyingperfect progressive
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has been toyingperfect progressive
Past
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toyedsimple
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had toyedperfect
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was toyingprogressive
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were toyingprogressive
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had been toyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of toy
1275–1325; Middle English toye dalliance; of obscure origin
Explanation
A toy is an object that's made for a child to play with. Your favorite childhood toy might have been a dollhouse, a stuffed animal, or a set of blocks. Some toys are specifically designed for play, like a small wooden train set or a baby's shape sorter. You can also make toys out of everyday objects and materials—a piece of paper can take the shape of a toy airplane, and a saucepan can become a toy drum. Very small dogs are another kind of toy, like a toy poodle. When you use it as a verb, toy means "move or handle absent-mindedly."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
From the factory, the toy goes by truck to a port, such as Shenzhen, the biggest in Guangdong.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
So if we stick to a toy that retails for $30 in the US, and therefore costs $6 to make in China, the cost of getting it to the states is 60 cents.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Going from the first idea to finished toy takes one to two years, says Melanie Wang from the Mihox sales team.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
The cost of making the $30 toy, getting it to the US, and paying the import tariff, comes to $7.35.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Ray collects boxes for her and seals them up with a toy inside.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
With great humanity, “Ulysses S. Cat” makes the case for pets, not as toys or diversions, but as companions in joy, sorrow and all the rest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Prices of goods like apparel and toys, which are often made from petrochemicals, also ticked up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
This year's Christmas toys left China in August and September.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
“Both toys and other recreational goods — products that are largely imported — posted their largest-ever monthly changes,” the analysts wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
My brothers make faces at me as they put their toys in the box and leave.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
He toyed with the Galaxy just before halftime, lining up to take a penalty before turning it over to Denis Bouanga, who scored to make it 2-0.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
The FDA has toyed with imposing a cap on advertised SPF values since 2011, arguing that numbers stretching toward 100 are misleading.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
This year, “Exit 8” and the upcoming “Backrooms” toyed with a less-is-more approach to claustrophobic, liminal horror.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
She asked the audience to teach her an English accent, then danced with joyous abandon, and toyed with concepts of devotion, fame and idol worship.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
Dill looked down and toyed with the peg game, suddenly less cheery.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Of course, Na is toying with his audience’s show me anticipation, while plying his trademark humor about rural sensibilities and desperate needling behavior.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
As an epidemiologist who knows far too much about infectious disease, I’m still toying with going on a cruise next year with my family.
From Slate ● May 16, 2026
At times, it feels like a victory lap, the most flattering possible portrait of a man who might be toying with the idea of going out while he’s still on top.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026
With the spring menu I’m toying around with the idea of doing really small portions and then obviously the price will reflect it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
It was like we had just been out there toying with them before I slammed over their big man.
From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
