in play
Idioms-
In action or operation. For example, A number of conflicting forces were in play, so the outcome was uncertain . It is also put as bring into play , meaning “to put into action,” as in The surprise witness brought new evidence into play . [Mid-1600s]
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In sports, in a position to be legally or feasibly played, as in The ball is now in play . [Late 1700s]
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In business, in a position for a possible corporate takeover, as in After a news item said the company was in play, the price of its stock began to rise . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1900s]
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.
More than 58% of the balls he has put in play have left his bat at 95 mph or above, which is nearly six points higher than his career mark, according to Statcast.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Mind you, Lawrence’s signature formula is still very much in play here, centering the plot around a sensitive, sad hero trying to start over after a great loss.
From Salon • May 11, 2026
Players were being thrown to the floor before the ball was in play.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
“Geopolitical concerns remain in play for the near term, though thus far have had little if any impact on operations,” a top executive at a healthcare provider told ISM.
From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026
His claws, clattering across the linoleum, sounded like mah-jongg tiles in play.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
