toy
Americannoun
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toys
plural
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an object, often a small representation of something familiar, as an animal or person, for children or others to play with; plaything.
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a thing or matter of little or no value or importance; a trifle.
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something that serves for or as if for diversion, rather than for serious practical use.
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a small article of little value but prized as a souvenir or for some other special reason; trinket; knickknack; bauble.
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something diminutive, especially in comparison with like objects.
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an animal of a breed or variety noted for smallness of size.
The winning terrier at the dog show was a toy.
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a close-fitting cap of linen or wool, with flaps coming down to the shoulders, formerly worn by women in Scotland.
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a simple, light piece of music, especially of 16th or 17th century England, written for the virginal.
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Obsolete.
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amorous dallying.
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a playful or amusing act; diversion; pastime.
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adjective
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made or designed for use as a toy.
a toy gun.
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of or resembling a toy, especially diminutive in size.
verb (used without object)
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toys,
present (3rd person singular)
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toyed,
past participle, past
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toying
present participle
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to amuse oneself; play.
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to act idly; or with indifference; trifle.
to toy with one's food.
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to dally amorously; flirt.
noun
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an object designed to be played with
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something that is a nonfunctioning replica of something else, esp a miniature one
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( as modifier )
a toy guitar
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any small thing of little value; trifle
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something small or miniature, esp a miniature variety of a breed of dog
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( as modifier )
a toy poodle
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verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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toysimple
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toyssimple
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have toyedperfect
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has toyedperfect
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am toyingprogressive
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are toyingprogressive
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is toyingprogressive
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have been toyingperfect progressive
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has been toyingperfect progressive
Past
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toyedsimple
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had toyedperfect
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was toyingprogressive
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were toyingprogressive
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had been toyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of toy
1275–1325; Middle English toye dalliance; of obscure origin
Explanation
A toy is an object that's made for a child to play with. Your favorite childhood toy might have been a dollhouse, a stuffed animal, or a set of blocks. Some toys are specifically designed for play, like a small wooden train set or a baby's shape sorter. You can also make toys out of everyday objects and materials—a piece of paper can take the shape of a toy airplane, and a saucepan can become a toy drum. Very small dogs are another kind of toy, like a toy poodle. When you use it as a verb, toy means "move or handle absent-mindedly."
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:
Lego, the world's biggest toy maker by revenue, posted "stronger than expected" earnings for the first half of the year, its chief executive told AFP, with net profit rising 32 percent.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Panettiere’s first national TV gig came at 11 months old with a Playskool toy train commercial, the start of around 50 advertising appearances she’d rack up before she was 5 years old.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
However, with this year the sixth edition, The Hundred is no longer the shiny new toy, even despite the new names, new kits and new owners.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Excuse me while I collapse — not from some migra man buzzing me with their new toy, but from laughter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
The Baby Einstein toy company was also launched in reaction to this study.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
They said they had been able to buy new toys for the paediatric intensive care unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and donate money to the Sick Children's Trust charity.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Sitting in the shade, Oleksandr was looking over his goods -- paintings, electronic components, toys and old phones -- laid out on wooden blanks on the tarmac.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Target had net sales growth across all six of its core merchandising categories, with particularly strong gains for its hardlines products, which include toys and electronics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Meanwhile, things like Legos and plush toys saw double-digit same-store sales gains in the second quarter.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Tidy nannies bought Amber orb-powered toys for children in fresh-pressed school uniforms.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Altman has long toyed with the idea of getting the federal government involved with OpenAI, asking whether it would be interested in funding the AI lab years before ChatGPT launched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
The pair toyed with India's wilting bowlers throughout, with Knight reverse-sweeping and scoring cannily behind square while Capsey struck beautifully straight down the ground.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
This year, “Exit 8” and the upcoming “Backrooms” toyed with a less-is-more approach to claustrophobic, liminal horror.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
But where to set such a scene was something Silvers toyed with, thinking of situations where either Caroline couldn’t find Henry or he’s wandered away from home.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
Francie toyed with the idea of being a tambourine lady.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
On the last day of working on “I Saw Your Face,” he “stripped it down and started the whole thing over” after toying with several versions of the song.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
As an epidemiologist who knows far too much about infectious disease, I’m still toying with going on a cruise next year with my family.
From Slate ● May 16, 2026
Last summer, rumors swirled that Jeff Bezos was toying with buying Vogue, and possibly Condé Nast, for his bride as a wedding present.
From Salon ● May 6, 2026
But there was one Liverpool-born forward toying with Football League defenders whose skills and outrageous goals earned him a weekly spot on Soccer AM's signature feature and the title 'Showboat King'.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
Watching him now, she realized that Syrio had only been toying with her when they dueled.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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.
