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:
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
Vicki said she had yet to come across a counterfeit squishy toy, but has seen warnings from parents about a "very strong petrol smell" coming from them.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Consumers can also check if a toy has been recalled, external.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
In June, during Russia’s annual flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg, A7’s stand featured a giant roly-poly toy with the company’s logo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Maybe it was because we were going to meet the American family and this was the toy I had to share or something.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Just five years old at the time, she saw a board that a family friend had given her father and wanted to use the pieces as toys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Breakfast cereal brands are bringing back toys inside the box.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Owners are allowed to bring toys, but they aren’t allowed in the water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The popularity of the item has led to duplicate and counterfeit squishy toys being sold online and in shops and stalls.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
In what little free time they had, they fished and hunted, quilted and kept chickens, tended their gardens, and had children who played with simple toys such as marbles or animals roughly carved from wood.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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
Messi toyed with United like a kid on the Playstation - twisting, turning, nutmegging defenders whose flailing white shirts might as well have been a call for surrender.
From BBC ● May 28, 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
He just sat there and toyed with his mask.
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
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
I don’t really know what it will be yet, but I’ve just been toying with different songs and different things and maybe that leads to nothing, but maybe it doesn’t.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 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
He was looking down at his feet, toying with the IV line coiled on the bed.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
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.
