Dictionary.com
definitions

by-play

or by·play

[bahy-pley]
See more synonyms for by-play on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an action or speech carried on to the side while the main action proceeds, especially on the stage.

Origin of by-play

First recorded in 1805–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for byplay

accomplishment, reality, adventure, truth, act, action, feat, fact, do, stunt, thing, plan, exploit, winning, commission, game, quest, enterprise, performance, bit

Examples from the Web for byplay

Historical Examples of byplay

  • They rode too hard, they were too much in earnest, to take the time for byplay.

    'Me-Smith'

    Caroline Lockhart

  • Miss Leonora sat rather grimly looking on at all this byplay.

    The Perpetual Curate

    Mrs [Margaret] Oliphant

  • He found time also, when the press of the season was over, for some byplay as a reviewer.

    Musical Criticisms

    Arthur Johnstone

  • Some byplay among the gypsies supplies the humor of the situations.

  • Husband and wife "took turns" from the single cup; there was gayety and byplay.

    The Higher Court

    Mary Stewart Daggett

British Dictionary definitions for byplay

by-play

noun
  1. secondary action or talking carried on apart while the main action proceeds, esp in a play
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