playful

[pley-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of play or fun; sportive; frolicsome.

2. pleasantly humorous or jesting.

   a playful remark.

playful

/ ˈpleɪfʊl /

adjective

1. full of high spirits and fun

   a playful kitten

2. good-natured and humorous

   a playful remark

Other Word Forms

• playfully adverb
• playfulness noun
• half-playful adjective
• half-playfully adverb
• half-playfulness noun
• unplayful adjective
• unplayfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of playful¹

First recorded in 1200–50, playful is from the Middle English word pleiful. See play, -ful

Example Sentences

Ensemble activities and configurations dominate this playful work despite its choreographic attention to three women and four men.

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And despite his view of Nick’s new ambitions, Nelson invites him to a sort of dance-off, in a moment both playful and poignant; they can find communion in dance that eludes them whenever they talk.

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“It’s a very playful game with us to be like, ‘Who’s going to take the lead next?’” she said.

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The title track, featuring Sabrina Carpenter, explores what she called “the playful, humorous side of show business.”

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It was a playful war that ended when the branch fell into the lake in a winter storm.

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Related Words

• cheerful 
• comical 
• flirtatious 
• frisky 
• good-natured 
• impish 
• joking 
• lighthearted 
• lively 
• mischievous 
• spirited 
• sprightly 
• tongue-in-cheek 
• whimsical