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:
However, with this year the sixth edition, The Hundred is no longer the shiny new toy, even despite the new names, new kits and new owners.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
She said it was best to buy toys from a reputable store and look for the CE safety mark, "so you know it's a safe toy for your child to use".
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
After a bigger splash at the New York World’s Fair in 1964, Mold-A-Ramas proliferated across the U.S., popping up in zoos, museums and anywhere tourists might exchange a coin for a toy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
In June, during Russia’s annual flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg, A7’s stand featured a giant roly-poly toy with the company’s logo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
As we file out of the fort, I spot something on the ground, tucked halfway under a toy bin.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
Just five years old at the time, she saw a board that a family friend had given her father and wanted to use the pieces as toys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Owners are allowed to bring toys, but they aren’t allowed in the water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Breakfast cereal brands are bringing back toys inside the box.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Vicki Worrall, from Cardiff, has a seven-year-old neurodivergent son who likes to play with sensory toys.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Laura Friendly had set up a Freebie account for anything the dog needed, from vet appointments to food to chew toys.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
Mired in a drought, she toyed with entering another last-minute tune-up tournament to chase the match victories that usually build confidence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The pair toyed with India's wilting bowlers throughout, with Knight reverse-sweeping and scoring cannily behind square while Capsey struck beautifully straight down the ground.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
In no episode has Kelly made this clearer than in the one that ran on Nov. 12, in which she toyed with a bit of Jeffrey Epstein apologia.
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
Iran has toyed with reverse-engineering, upgrading and creating its own combat aircraft, but has lacked the finances and technology to do so effectively, said Farzan Sabet, an Iran-focused researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
She toyed with a pen on his desk.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Unlike in Homer or even “Clash of the Titans,” which showed the gods as toga-clad twits toying with mortal lives like action figures, they have little, if anything, to do in this plot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
She can sound like Vaughan; she does for one passage here on “Ever Since the One I Love’s Been Gone,” yet then immediately breaks free, toying wildly with the pitch of the very next note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 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
But there was one Liverpool-born forward toying with Football League defenders whose skills and outrageous goals earned him a weekly spot on Soccer AM's signature feature and the title 'Showboat King'.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
I look closely at the string he’s toying with.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
