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gameplay

American  
[geym-pley] / ˈgeɪmˌpleɪ /

noun

  1. the interactive content and player experiences in a game, especially a video game.

    The reviews are saying that the gameplay is solid, but the art—especially in the cinematics—is unforgivably bad.

  2. the activity or manner of playing a game.

    The retired chess grandmaster recently published a book with analyses of famous historical games for players looking to perfect their gameplay.


gameplay British  
/ ˈɡeɪmˌpleɪ /

noun

  1. the plot of a computer or video game or the way that it is played

"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

Etymology

Origin of gameplay

First recorded in 1990–95; game 1 ( def. ) + play ( def. )

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:

While this season is advertised as “for the fans,” you don’t need to be a “Survivor” expert to enjoy the strategic gameplay, backstabbing and twists in this historic TV competition.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 26, 2026

From what we've seen so far in the two gameplay trailers, the story will follow the pair in a Bonnie and Clyde-esque adventure through the seedy underbelly of America after an "easy score goes wrong".

From BBC Jun. 19, 2026

Likewise, for gamers, a VPN can help reduce lag by connecting to servers in other regions, resulting in smoother gameplay.

From Salon Jun. 10, 2026

Rana’s Rutgers-Newark team roster page shows that he didn’t get a lot of gameplay.

From The Wall Street Journal May 9, 2026

“Good luck,” Ren says as the announcer reads out the familiar rules of gameplay.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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