play

UK /pleɪ/ US /pleɪ/

verb 5noun 5name 1

Definitions

verb

To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.

The children played in the park.

A youngster[…]listed some of the things his pet did not do:[…]go on vacation, play in the same way that he did with his friends, and so on.

To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.

Don't play with your food!

He's just playing with her affections.

To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

He plays on three teams.

Who's playing now?

To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers

To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.

England will not be catapulted among the favourites for Euro 2012 as a result of this win, but no victory against Spain is earned easily and it is right they take great heart from their efforts as they now prepare to play Sweden at Wembley on Tuesday.

noun

Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

Children learn through play.

She was fond of all boys' plays, and greatly preferred cricket […] to dolls […]

Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.

This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills.

The conduct, or course, of a game.

Play was very slow in the first half.

After the rain break, play resumed at 3 o'clock.

The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is available to be played (see also in play, out of play).

In potting the yellow ball, he's knocked the green into play.

When a chess piece is captured, it is removed from play.

An individual's performance in a sport or game.

His play has improved a lot this season.

name

Dave & Buster's.

Dave and Buster’s (PLAY), the popular restaurant and entertainment chain, is getting into the betting business.

Collocations

(noun.) activity done for fun

ADJ

outdoor

creative, imaginative, pretend

PLAY + NOUN

area

equipment

scheme

During summer vacation, the community center organized a play scheme for children in the neighborhood.

PREP

at ~

The dogs were happy and relaxed while at play in the park.

in ~

The children were laughing and pushing each other in play during their lunch break.

(noun.) drama

ADJ

one-act

radio, television

musical

miracle, morality, mystery, nativity, passion

The local theatre group decided to stage a mystery play that kept the audience guessing until the final scene.

VERB + PLAY

review

The newspaper reviewed the play and gave it an excellent rating.

PREP

~ about

The new movie is about a detective who solves crimes in Victorian England.

(noun.) in sport

ADJ

excellent, good

fair

dangerous, dirty, foul, rough, violent

The referee stopped the match because of the dangerous play from both teams.

VERB + PLAY

stop

The children stopped playing when their mother called them for dinner.

PREP

in ~

The negotiations have been in play for several months now.

out of ~

The tennis ball went out of play when it hit the net post.

PHRASES

at close/start of play (in cricket)

The batsman was still batting when play ended for the day.

(verb.) of children

VERB + PLAY

let sb

My parents let me play outside until dinner time.

PREP

My daughter and her friends played at being superheroes in the backyard yesterday afternoon.

with

My brother was playing with his friends in the park after school.

(verb.) game/sport

ADV

brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well

badly

VERB + PLAY

learn to

teach sb to

be difficult to, be easy to

see sb, watch sb

PREP

against

It's challenging to play against experienced opponents who know all your strategies.

My brother always beats me when we play at chess.

for

Sarah has been playing for the school volleyball team since last year.

He played in the school orchestra for three years before moving to the city.

with

My son loves to play with his toy trains every afternoon after school.

(verb.) music

ADV

brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well

badly

live

The singer played live at the concert last night and the audience loved every moment.

VERB + PLAY

learn to

My daughter learned to play soccer when she was five years old.

teach sb to

be easy to, be difficult to

That guitar piece is difficult to play because it requires fast finger movements.

hear sb

I heard my neighbor play the violin beautifully last night through the apartment wall.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skill

swordplay

noun — the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (includ

noun — (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed successi

turn

noun — gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or

noun — a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and sk

noun — an attempt to get something

noun — movement or space for movement

looseness

noun — verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to

noun — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stag

drama

noun — a weak and tremulous light

shimmer

verb — engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take

verb — pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

verb — consider not very seriously

verb — contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle

verb — stake on the outcome of an issue

verb — manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

verb — cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

verb — cause to emit recorded audio or video

verb — play a role or part

verb — perform on a stage or theater

act
roleplay
playact

verb — replay (as a melody)

spiel

verb — engage in recreational activities rather than work

recreate

verb — behave carelessly or indifferently

Antonyms

tightness
tautness

Idioms & Phrases

when the cat's away the mice will play

In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances.

play with fire

To put oneself in a precarious situation with a high risk of getting harmed, particularly emotionally or financially.

I'm telling you, if you sign that paper, you're playing with fire.

play by ear

To play guided by one's musical perception and intuition, rather than from a written score.

play hooky

To play truant; to avoid (informally: skip) school, work, or other duties (stay away from these without permission nor an excuse); to skive or to bunk off (UK);

Plenty of people played hooky from work to go see the movie on opening day.

play possum

To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.

Thinking fast, we played possum, hoping the bear wouldn't bother us.

Example Bank

The children played in the park.

Wiktionary

A youngster[…]listed some of the things his pet did not do:[…]go on vacation, play in the same way that he did with his friends, and so on.

Wiktionary

2003, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont et al. (eds.), Joining Society: Social Interaction and Learning in Adolescence and Youth, Cambridge Univ. Press, p.52:

Wiktionary

Children learn through play.

Wiktionary

She was fond of all boys' plays, and greatly preferred cricket […] to dolls […]

Wiktionary

1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure You know, when I was around 7-11 years old, my favorite play would be "boys." One of

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, play is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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