play-by-play

[pley-bahy-pley]

adjective

1. pertaining to or being a detailed account of each incident or act of an event, as in sports.

   a play-by-play broadcast of a baseball game.

noun

1. a detailed and sequential description of a sports contest or other event, as by a sportscaster, usually as it is taking place.

Word History and Origins

Origin of play-by-play¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

He will join play-by-play announcer Adam Amin in the booth starting Nov. 16.

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Announcer Howard Cosell, known for his love of boxing and of himself, alternately tried to intervene and calm things down while doing a sort of play-by-play.

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Bob Costas sits down with Tom Verducci to talk through his decision to retire from play-by-play announcing and reflect on his career.

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“I know from the outside, people may look and say, the talent’s not changing, this imposing schedule isn’t changing, how can anyone expect different results?” said Paul Loeffler, Fresno State’s radio play-by-play announcer.

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Papa, 62, began his career doing radio play-by-play for the Indiana Pacers in 1984 but launched a decades-long career in the Bay Area when hired by the Golden State Warriors in 1986.

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Related Words

• detail 
• explanation 
• history 
• narrative 
• report 
• story 
• tale 
• version 

When To Use

What does play-by-play mean?

A play-by-play is a running commentary on or a detailed summary of an event, used especially in sports.