play
Americannoun
-
plays
plural
-
a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
-
a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
- Synonyms:
- show
-
exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
- Antonyms:
- work
-
fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness.
I said it merely in play.
-
a pun.
On this article about encroaching grizzlies, the headline “Bear with us” is a play on the word “bear.”
-
the playing, action, or conduct of a game.
The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
-
the manner or style of playing or of doing something.
We admired his fine play throughout the game.
-
an act or instance of playing or of doing something.
a stupid play that cost us the match.
-
one's turn to play.
Whose play is it?
-
a playing for stakes; gambling.
-
an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver.
They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
-
an enterprise or venture; deal.
an oil and drilling play.
-
action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind.
fair play;
foul play.
-
action, activity, or operation.
the play of fancy.
-
brisk, light, or changing movement or action.
a fountain with a leaping play of water.
-
elusive change or movement, as of light or colors.
the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
-
a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
-
freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
- Synonyms:
- freedom
-
freedom for action, or scope for activity.
full play of the mind.
- Synonyms:
- freedom
-
attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news.
The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
-
an act or instance of being broadcast.
The governor's speech got two plays on our local station.
verb (used with object)
-
plays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
played,
past participle, past
-
playing
present participle
-
to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray.
to play Lady Macbeth.
-
to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.
- Synonyms:
- enact
-
to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life.
to play the role of benefactor.
-
to act the part or character of in real life.
to play the fool;
to play God.
- Synonyms:
- impersonate, personate
-
to give performances in, as a theatrical company does.
to play the larger cities.
-
to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.).
-
to contend against in a game.
-
to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition.
He usually plays left field.
-
to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game.
I played my highest card.
- Synonyms:
- use
-
to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage.
He played his brothers against each other.
-
to stake or wager, as in a game.
- Synonyms:
- bet
-
to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
- Synonyms:
- back
-
to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest.
to play pirates.
-
to perform on (a musical instrument).
-
to perform (music) on an instrument.
-
to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures.
Do you mind if I play the radio?
Stop playing YouTube videos and get to work!
-
to do or perform.
You shouldn't play tricks.
Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
-
to carry or put into operation; act upon.
to play a hunch.
-
to cause to move or change lightly or quickly.
to play colored lights on a fountain.
-
to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action.
to play a hose on a fire.
-
to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
-
to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently.
Play the flood photos on page one.
-
to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).
verb (used without object)
-
plays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
played,
past participle, past
-
playing
present participle
-
to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
-
to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
-
to amuse oneself; toy; trifle (often followed bywith ).
- Synonyms:
- dally
-
to take part or engage in a game.
-
to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
-
to conduct oneself or act in a specified way.
to play fair.
-
to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
-
to perform on a musical instrument.
-
(of an instrument or music) to sound in performance.
The strings are playing well this evening.
-
(of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound.
The radio played all night.
-
to be performed or shown.
What's playing at the movie theater around the corner?
-
to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script.
We hope this scene will play well.
-
Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare.
How will the senator's proposal play with the public?
-
to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
-
to move about lightly or quickly.
The water of the fountain played in the air.
-
to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance.
The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
-
to operate continuously or with repeated action.
-
Informal. to comply or cooperate.
They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
verb phrase
-
play along
-
to cooperate or concur; go along.
-
to pretend to cooperate or concur.
-
-
play at
-
to pretend interest in.
It's obvious that you're just playing at fishing for my sake.
-
to do something without seriousness.
He is merely playing at being a student.
-
-
play off
-
Sports. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie.
-
Sports. to engage in an elimination game or games after the regular season is over in order to determine the champion.
-
to set (one person or thing) against another, usually for one's own gain or advantage.
The children could usually get what they wanted by playing one parent off against the other.
-
-
play around
-
to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around.
-
to be sexually promiscuous.
-
to be sexually unfaithful.
-
-
play on / upon to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of.
She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
-
play out
-
to evolve or progress toward a conclusion; unfold; turn out.
Right now it’s too early to tell how all this will play out.
-
to come or bring to an end; finish.
The full consequences of the decision have yet to be played out.
-
to play to the end of (something).
When the camera started rolling, I knew exactly how much time I had to play out the full scene.
-
to use up or be used up; exhaust or be exhausted.
Mining towns quickly sprouted, and just as quickly disappeared once the coal supply played out.
And when that groundwater supply is played out, then what?
-
to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc..
By the time he reached the bottom of the cavern, his friends on the surface had played out 150 feet of rope.
-
-
play down to treat as of little importance; minimize.
He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
-
play up to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize.
The schools are playing up their science programs.
-
play back to play (a recording, especially one newly made).
Play it back and let's hear how I sound.
idioms
-
come to play, to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed.
We're a small new business, but we came to play.
-
play it by ear, to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors.
If you can't come up with a plan, we'll just have to play it by ear.
-
play possum. possum.
-
make a play for,
-
to try to attract, especially sexually.
He made a play for his friend's girlfriend.
-
to attempt to gain by impressing favorably.
This ad will make a play for new consumer markets.
-
-
play into someone's hands, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent): Also play into the hands of
If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.
-
play second fiddle. second fiddle.
-
play with a full deck. deck.
-
play ball. ball.
-
play with oneself, to masturbate.
-
play up to, to attempt to impress in order to gain someone's favor.
Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
-
play by ear, to play (music or a musical instrument) without printed music, as by memory of what one has heard or by unschooled musical instinct.
-
play politics. politics.
-
play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision.
Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time.
-
play one's cards right. card.
-
in / out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game.
The umpire says the ball was not in play.
-
play the field. field.
-
play it safe, to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger: Also play safe
She usually plays it safe on the red carpet, wearing simple, classic designs.
-
played out,
-
play with fire. fire.
-
play the game. game.
-
bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced.
New evidence has been brought into play in this trial.
-
play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
-
play hardball. hardball.
-
play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one's ends.
to play fast and loose with someone's affections.
verb
-
to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
-
(tr) to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game
Ed played Tony at chess and lost
-
to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game
he plays defence
he plays in the defence
-
(tr) to address oneself to (a ball) in a game
play the ball not the man
-
(intr; often foll by about or around) to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with)
to play about with a young girl's affections
-
to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of)
to play the villain
just what are you playing at?
-
to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
-
to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
-
(intr) to be received
How will these policies play in Middle England?
-
to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument)
David plays the harp
-
to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified
he plays out of tune
-
(tr)
-
to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrument
-
to perform works by (a specific composer)
to play Brahms
-
-
to discharge or cause to discharge
he played the water from the hose onto the garden
-
to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound)
he played a record
the radio was playing loudly
-
to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly
lights played on the scenery
-
(tr) stock exchange to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
-
(tr) angling to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod's flexibility
-
to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
-
to gamble (money) on a game
-
informal to cooperate
-
to prove oneself fair in one's dealings
-
to prove oneself unfair in one's dealings
-
See ear 1
-
to delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one's own advantage
-
to act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)
-
See fool 1
-
See game 1
noun
-
a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
-
-
the performance of a dramatic composition
-
( in combination )
playreader
-
-
-
games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by children
-
( in combination )
playroom
-
( as modifier )
play dough
-
-
manner of action, conduct, or playing
fair play
-
the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress
rain stopped play
-
a move or manoeuvre in a game
a brilliant play
-
the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play )
-
a turn to play
it's my play
-
the act of playing for stakes; gambling
-
action, activity, or operation
the play of the imagination
-
freedom of or scope or space for movement
too much play in the rope
-
light, free, or rapidly shifting motion
the play of light on the water
-
fun, jest, or joking
I only did it in play
-
to bring into operation
-
informal
-
to make an obvious attempt to gain
-
to attempt to attract or seduce
-
Usage
What is a basic definition of play? A play is a performance that is done on a stage or in a theater. Play also means to engage in a fun activity or to emit sound or video from a media device. Play has many other senses as both a noun and a verb. In theater, a play is a performance during which actors recite lines from a script and perform the actions of the characters. The written work that includes the dialogue and story is also called a play. A person who writes plays is known as a playwright. Real-life examples: Famous plays include Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Used in a sentence: My boyfriend and I are going to see a play tomorrow. Play means to engage in something fun or enjoyable. A person who plays is called a player. Real-life examples: Children play games during recess. Athletes play sports. Musicians play instruments. Gamblers play card games. Animal lovers play with their pets. Used in a sentence: I like to play basketball with my friends after school. Play also means to produce sound or images on a media device. Real-life examples: A “play button” on a remote control or a YouTube video is what you press to tell a device, program, or app to begin producing sound and/or video. The play symbol usually resembles a triangle pointed to the right. Used in a sentence: The DJ booth played great music while everybody danced.
Synonym Usage
Play, game, sport refer to forms of diverting activity. Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random: Childhood should be a time for play. Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules: a game of chess. Besides referring to an individual contest, game may refer to a pastime as a whole: Golf is a good game. If, however, the pastime is one (usually an outdoor one) depending chiefly on physical strength, though not necessarily a contest, the word sport is applied: Football is a vigorous sport.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
counterplaynoun
-
playabilitynoun
-
nonplayingadjective
-
playableadjective
-
playlessadjective
-
playlikeadjective
-
self-playingadjective
-
unplayedadjective
-
unplayingadjective
-
well-playedadjective
-
playinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
playsimple
-
playssimple
-
have playedperfect
-
has playedperfect
-
am playingprogressive
-
are playingprogressive
-
is playingprogressive
-
have been playingperfect progressive
-
has been playingperfect progressive
Past
-
playedsimple
-
had playedperfect
-
was playingprogressive
-
were playingprogressive
-
had been playingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of play
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English plei(e) “merriment, sport, pleasure,” Old English plega “quick movement, play” (as in swordplay); (verb) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch pleien “to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad”)
Explanation
A play is a dramatic work that's written to be staged in a theater and in front of an audience. Your city might offer a free Shakespeare play in the park every year. If you take part in a game or a sport, you play it. You might love to play charades, but no one is going to want to play with you if you keep forgetting the rules. The verb play also means to make music, like when you play your ukulele. And if you toy with a concept — like forming a ukulele orchestra — you play around with the idea.
Vocabulary lists containing play
Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Reading: Literature - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Reading: Literature - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
And while the team’s long-term answer under center may prove to be someone they haven’t even drafted yet, it’s up to Monken to figure out who to play in the meantime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, he said: "It's always far too easy to play the populism card, to promise what is undeliverable."
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
He has an 8 handicap in golf and can drive a ball 300 yards from the tee, so if you need a ringer for a charity tournament, Goroyan will play the role.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
“So it’s something they know” and in which they are in a position to play the long game, Reading said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
I play a refrain of the piece I played before.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
The same psychological trap plays out in Big Pharma boardrooms, though the stakes are measured in tens of billions of dollars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
In the movie, Panettiere plays Gen Harwood, an archetypal most-popular-girl-in-school and less-than-standard teenage ice-skating prodigy.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
Don’t be surprised to see Serra taking advantage of Ace’s speed by letting him return kickoffs and make some plays on offense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Anderson, who plays Win, and Jason Isaac, who plays Moth, have spoken about the controversy that clouded its UK release for the first time.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Everyone understands and plays by the rules, which took a long time to decide on.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
On “Live In New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art,” released in 2006, Mr. Batiste played just one of his compositions, “Green Chimneys.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
With respect to this recent attack, experts’ fears nearly played out in Clayton County, Georgia, when a pressure drop was noted but quickly addressed.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
The former England Under-21 international then played with a metal plate in his foot from January until the end of this summer's World Cup in North America, where he made four appearances for Germany.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Since earnings-growth momentum has played such a key role in market gains, this could be an early sign of trouble for stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
The cover of “Spirit Rappings” sheet music, printed music sold often for home use, typically to be played on a piano.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The passer who was once projected as a first-round pick after rising to celebrity while playing at Colorado under his father, Deion, dropped all the way to the fifth round.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Nick Kyrgios once said there was "zero chance" he would be playing tennis into his 30s.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
The classic lineup featuring Meadowlark Lemon and Hubert “Geese” Ausbie had tried and failed to beat their perennial foils: the Washington Generals, playing that night as the New Jersey Reds.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
It’s something my team and I talk about all the time: the trade-off of playing to the algorithm versus staying true to what you’d want to do.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
The big screen at the stadium shows the Phanatic playing peek-a-boo with a cute little kid.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
