game

[ geym ]

/ geɪm /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR game ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an amusement or pastime: children's games.

the material or equipment used in playing certain games: a store selling toys and games.

a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators.

a single occasion of such an activity, or a definite portion of one: the final game of the season; a rubber of three games at bridge.

the number of points required to win a game.

the score at a particular stage in a game: With five minutes to play, the game was 7 to 0.

a particular manner or style of playing a game: Her game of chess is improving.

anything resembling a game, as in requiring skill, endurance, or adherence to rules: the game of diplomacy.

a trick or strategy: to see through someone's game.

fun; sport of any kind; joke: That's about enough of your games.

wild animals, including birds and fishes, such as are hunted for food or taken for sport or profit.

the flesh of such wild animals or other game, used as food: a dish of game.

any object of pursuit, attack, abuse, etc.: The new boy at school seemed to be fair game for practical jokers.

Informal. a business or profession: He's in the real-estate game.

Archaic. fighting spirit; pluck.

adjective, gam·er, gam·est.

pertaining to or composed of animals hunted or taken as game or to their flesh.

having a fighting spirit; plucky.

Informal. having the required spirit or will (often followed by for or an infinitive): Who's game for a hike through the woods?

verb (used without object), gamed, gam·ing.

to play games of chance for stakes; gamble.

to play computer or video games.

verb (used with object), gamed, gam·ing.

to squander in gaming (usually followed by away).

to manipulate to one's advantage, especially by trickery; attempt to take advantage of: The policy is flawed and many people try to game the system.

Nearby words

gambol, gambrel, gambrel roof, gambrinus, gambusia, game, game bird, game birds, game chips, game face, game fish

Idioms

die game,

to die after a brave struggle.
to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat: He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.

make game of, to make fun of; ridicule: to make game of the weak and defenseless.

off (or on) one’s game,

Sports. playing very badly (or very well).
not functioning (or functioning) at one’s usual level: She’s been off her game since she came back from vacation.

play games, to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others: Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!

play the game, Informal.

to act or play in accordance with the rules.
to act honorably or justly: We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.

Origin of game

before 1000; Middle English gamen, Old English gaman; cognate with Old High German gaman glee

SYNONYMS FOR game

3 sport, contest, competition.

9 scheme, artifice, stratagem, plan, plot, venture.

11, 13 prey, quarry.

17 brave, bold, intrepid, dauntless, fearless.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR game ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsgame·less, adjectivegame·like, adjectivegame·ness, nounun·game·like, adjective

Definition for game (2 of 2)

game

[ geym ]

/ geɪm /

adjective

lame: a game leg.

Origin of game

1780–90; perhaps shortening of gammy, though change in vowel unclear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for game

This is going to be the Game of Thrones of U.S. Senate races.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Think of it as Game of Thrones—if you subtract the sex and violence and add drunken revelry and singing.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale|Melissa Leon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And that gets to the heart of what makes the game so incredible: By staying silent, it turns the player into the game master.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The game never congratulates me for my work, or even acknowledges it at all.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The loss of this “expectation” game began his decline and ultimate withdrawal from the race.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A minute or two after the game was over Mr. Westinghouse, the chaplain, came into the drawing-room.
The Socialist|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
You made some capital shots, though, and if I hadn't been so lucky, you would have come out the victor in every game.
Making His Way|Horatio Alger, Jr.
It was a game paradise, and the snow-shoe rabbit abounded in thousands.
Kazan|James Oliver Curwood
They had reached the village before Ned had began to speak of anything more important than the weather or the game.
At His Gates, Vol. 3(of 3)|Margaret Oliphant
Hounds like Bluey and Brutus run by sight alone; they have no nose, and the moment they cannot see their game they are lost.
The Ranche on the Oxhide|Henry Inman

British Dictionary definitions for game (1 of 2)

game

/ (ɡeɪm) /

noun

an amusement or pastime; diversion

a contest with rules, the result being determined by skill, strength, or chance

a single period of play in such a contest, sport, etc

the score needed to win a contest

a single contest in a series; match

(plural; often capital) an event consisting of various sporting contests, esp in athleticsOlympic Games; Highland Games

equipment needed for playing certain games

short for computer game

style or ability in playing a gamehe is a keen player but his game is not good

a scheme, proceeding, etc, practised like a gamethe game of politics

an activity undertaken in a spirit of levity; jokemarriage is just a game to him

wild animals, including birds and fish, hunted for sport, food, or profit
(as modifier)game laws

the flesh of such animals, used as food: generally taken not to include fish

an object of pursuit; quarry; prey (esp in the phrase fair game)

informal work or occupation

informal a trick, strategy, or deviceI can see through your little game

obsolete pluck or courage; bravery

slang, mainly British prostitution (esp in the phrase on the game)

give the game away to reveal one's intentions or a secret

make game of or make a game of to make fun of; ridicule; mock

off one's game playing badly

on one's game playing well

play the game to behave fairly or in accordance with rules

the game is up there is no longer a chance of success

adjective

informal full of fighting spirit; plucky; brave

game as Ned Kelly or as game as Ned Kelly Australian informal extremely brave; indomitable

(usually foll by for) informal prepared or ready; willingI'm game for a try

verb

(intr) to play games of chance for money, stakes, etc; gamble

Derived Formsgamelike, adjective

Word Origin for game

Old English gamen; related to Old Norse gaman, Old High German gaman amusement

British Dictionary definitions for game (2 of 2)

game

/ (ɡeɪm) /

adjective

a less common word for lame 1 game leg

Word Origin for game

C18: probably from Irish cam crooked

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

Word Origin and History for game (1 of 4)

game

Old English gamen "game, joy, fun, amusement," common Germanic (cf. Old Frisian game "joy, glee," Old Norse gaman, Old Saxon, Old High German gaman "sport, merriment," Danish gamen, Swedish gamman "merriment"), regarded as identical with Gothic gaman "participation, communion," from Proto-Germanic *ga- collective prefix + *mann "person," giving a sense of "people together."

Meaning "contest played according to rules" is first attested c.1300. Sense of "wild animals caught for sport" is late 13c.; hence fair game (1825), also gamey. Game plan is 1941, from U.S. football; game show first attested 1961.

Word Origin and History for game (1 of 4)

game

adj.1

"lame," 1787, from north Midlands dialect, of unknown origin, perhaps a variant of gammy (tramps' slang) "bad," or from Old North French gambe "leg" (see gambol (n.)).

Word Origin and History for game (2 of 4)

game

adj.2

"brave, spirited," 1725, especially in game-cock "bird for fighting," from game (n.). Middle English had gamesome (adj.) "joyful, playful, sportive."

Word Origin and History for game (3 of 4)

game

Old English gamenian "to play, jest, joke;" see game (n.). Modern usages probably represent recent formations from the noun. Related: Gamed; gaming.

Idioms and Phrases with game

game

In addition to the idioms beginning with game

game is not worth the candle, the
game is up, the
game that two can play, that's a

also see:

ahead of the game
at this stage (of the game)
badger game
beat someone at his or her own game
call someone's bluff (game)
confidence game
end game
fair game
fun and games

give away (the game)losing battle (game)name of the gameonly game in townplay a waiting gameplay gamesplay the gamewaiting gamewhole new ball game.

game

noun

adjective, gam·er, gam·est.

verb (used without object), gamed, gam·ing.

verb (used with object), gamed, gam·ing.

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verb (used without object), gamed, gam·ing.

verb (used with object), gamed, gam·ing.

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