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Synonyms

play-off

American  
[pley-awf, -of] / ˈpleɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

  1. (in competitive sports) the playing of an extra game, rounds, innings, etc., in order to settle a tie.

  2. a series of games or matches, as between the leading teams of two leagues, in order to decide a championship.

    In America the most exciting play-off is the World Series.
play off British  

verb

  1. to deal with or manipulate as if in playing a game

    to play one person off against another

  2. (intr) to take part in a play-off

"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

noun

  1. sport an extra contest to decide the winner when two or more competitors are tied

  2. a contest or series of games to determine a championship, as between the winners of two competitions

"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
play off Idioms  

  1. See under play both ends against the middle .

  2. Break a tie by playing an additional game or period, as in Each team had won three games so they had to play off the tie to decide the championship .

Etymology

Origin of play-off

First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase play off

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.

The Iraqis are set to face either Bolivia or Suriname in the Mexican city of Monterrey on 31 March, with the winner of the inter-continental play-off booking their place in the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June.

From BBC

Iraq defeated the United Arab Emirates 3-2 on aggregate in the fifth round of the World Cup qualifiers in Asia last November to book their place in the inter-continental play-off.

From BBC

Bolivia face Suriname in their inter-continental play-off semi-final on 26 March, with the winners taking on Iraq for the right to join 47 other nations at the World Cup.

From BBC

It will be a situation Wrexham will have to get used to should they turn play-off promise into a fourth straight promotion and book regular visits from Premier League opponents.

From BBC

I was at Elland Road in 2024 when Leeds destroyed Norwich 4-0 in the Championship play-off semi-final.

From BBC

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.