play
noun
a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
has been playing
-
present perfect progressiveof play (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
This dynamic has been playing out in the Ivy League, for instance, where admission rates have fallen over the past decade-plus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Shields said he has been playing tackle football since he was 11.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
"When you look at the skills we've got and the talents we've got within the team, it is a team that has been playing relatively aggressive cricket," Gould said.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
You might have not seen him in the Premier League for a few years because he has been playing in Saudi Arabia and, since February for Fenerbahce in Turkey, but he has not changed.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Round with awe his eyes shone, like those of a little boy; he looks, she thought, as if he has been playing and now it’s time to give up and come home.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
