play

1 of 2

noun

1
a
b
archaic : game, sport
c
: the conduct, course, or action of a game
d
: a particular act or maneuver in a game: such as
(1)
: the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football
(2)
: the action in which a player is put out in baseball
e
: the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game
f
: the moving of a piece in a board game (such as chess)
g
: one's turn in a game
it's your play
2
a
obsolete : sexual intercourse
b
: amorous flirtation : dalliance
3
a
: recreational activity
especially : the spontaneous activity of children
b
: absence of serious or harmful intent : jest
said it in play
c
: the act or an instance of playing on words or speech sounds
4
a(1)
: an act, way, or manner of proceeding : maneuver
that was a play to get your fingerprintsErle Stanley Gardner
(2)
b(1)
: the state of being active, operative, or relevant
other motives surely come into playM. R. Cohen
several issues are at play
(2)
: brisk, fitful, or light movement
the gem presented a dazzling play of colors
(3)
: free or unimpeded motion (as of a part of a machine)
also : the length or measure of such motion
(4)
: scope or opportunity for action
(5)
: a function of an electronic device that causes a recording to play
5
: emphasis or publicity especially in the news media
wished the country received a better play in the American pressHugh MacLennan
6
: a move or series of moves calculated to arouse friendly feelings
usually used with make
made a big play for the girlWill Herman
7
a
: the stage representation of an action or story
b
: a dramatic composition : drama

play

2 of 2

verb

played; playing; plays

intransitive verb

1
a
: to engage in sport or recreation : frolic
b
: to have sexual relations
especially : to have promiscuous or illicit sexual relations
usually used in the phrase play around
c(1)
: to move aimlessly about : trifle
(2)
: to toy or fiddle around with something
played with her food
(3)
: to deal or behave frivolously or mockingly : jest
(4)
: to deal in a light, speculative, or sportive manner
(5)
: to make use of double meaning or of the similarity of sound of two words for stylistic or humorous effect
2
a
: to take advantage
playing on fears
b(1)
(2)
: to move or operate in a lively, irregular, or intermittent manner
c
: to move or function freely within prescribed limits
d
: to produce a stream
hoses playing on a fire
3
a(1)
: to perform music
play on a violin
(2)
: to sound in performance
the organ is playing
(3)
: to emit sounds
the radio is playing
(4)
: to reproduce recorded sounds
a record is playing
b(1)
: to act in a dramatic production
(2)
: show, run
what's playing at the theater
c
: to be suitable for dramatic performance
d
: to act with special consideration so as to gain favor, approval, or sympathy
might play to popular prejudices to serve his political endsV. L. Parrington
often used in the phrase play up to
e
: to produce a specified impression in performance
a movie that plays like a sitcom
4
a
: to engage or take part in a game
b
: to perform in a position in a specified manner
the outfielders were playing deep
c
: to perform an action during one's turn in a game
d
: gamble
e(1)
: to behave or conduct oneself in a specified way
play safe
(2)
: to feign a specified state or quality
play dead
(3)
: to take part in or assent to some activity : cooperate
play along with his scheme
(4)
: to act so as to prove advantageous to another
usually used in the phrase play into the hands of
5
: to gain approval : go over
her idea did not play well

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to engage in or occupy oneself with
play baseball
(2)
: to engage in (an activity) as a game
(3)
: to deal with, handle, or manage
b
: to pretend to engage in the activities of
play war
children playing house
c(1)
: to amount to by one's efforts
played an important role in their success
(2)
: to perform or execute for amusement or to deceive or mock
play a trick
(3)
: wreak
play havoc
(4)
: to use or introduce as a political or rhetorical strategy
play the national security card
2
a(1)
: to put on a performance of (a play)
(2)
: to act in the character or part of
(3)
: to act or perform in
played leading theaters
b
: to perform or act the part of
play the fool
3
a(1)
: to contend against in or as if in a game
(2)
: to use as a contestant in a game
the coach did not play him
(3)
: to perform the duties associated with (a certain position)
played quarterback
(4)
: to guard or move into position to defend against (an opponent) in a specified manner
b(1)
: to wager in a game : stake
(2)
: to make wagers on
play the races
(3)
: to speculate on or in
play the stock market
(4)
: to operate on the basis of
play a hunch
c
: to put into action in a game
especially : to remove (a playing card) from one's hand and place usually faceup on a table in one's turn either as part of a scoring combination or as one's contribution to a trick
d
: to catch or pick up (a batted ball) : field
played the ball bare-handed
e
: to direct the course of (something, such as a ball) : hit
played a wedge shot to the green
also : to cause (a ball or puck) to rebound
played the ball off the backboard
4
a
: to perform (music) on an instrument
play a waltz
b
: to perform music on
play the violin
c
: to perform music of (a certain composer)
d(1)
: to cause (a device, such as a radio) to emit sounds
(2)
: to cause the recorded sound or image of (something, such as a record, optical disk, or a digital file) to be reproduced
5
a
: wield, ply
b
: to discharge, fire, or set off with continuous effect
played the hose on the burning building
c
: to cause to move or operate lightly and irregularly or intermittently
d
: to keep (a hooked fish) in action
playability noun
playable adjective
Phrases
in play
: in condition or position to be legitimately played
out of play
: not in play
play ball play both ends against the middle
: to set opposing interests against each other to one's own ultimate profit
play by ear
: to deal with something without previous planning or instructions
play games
: to try to hide the truth from someone by deceptive means
play one's cards
: to act with the means available to one
play possum
: to pretend to be asleep or dead
play second fiddle
: to take a subordinate position
play the field
: to date or have romantic connections with more than one person
play the game
: to act according to a code or set of standards
play with a full deck
: to be rational or sane
play with fire
: to do something risky or dangerous
play with oneself
Choose the Right Synonym for play

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter.

fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of play in a Sentence

Noun The play is based on a real-life event. He wrote, directed, and starred in the play. His fifth grade class is putting on a play about the first Thanksgiving. I've gone to all of my daughter's school plays. The book discusses the role of play in a child's development. As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Please, no talking during play. Rain held up play for an hour. The chess match finally ended after three hours of play. The two golfers were tied at the start of play yesterday. Verb The children were playing in the yard. Can Sara come out and play? He played by himself in his room. Did you play any sports in high school? No one dares to play chess with him. The children were playing hide-and-seek. I have a chess set. Do you want to play? It's your turn to play. She hurt her wrist but decided to continue playing. He played in every major tournament this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The single also vaults 20-14 on Rhythmic Airplay through a 36% increase in plays. Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2024 Super Bowl viewers saw such dynamics in play this year when CoStar Group, the owner of real-estate sites like Homes.com and Apartments.com turned out to be one of the biggest spenders in the Big Game. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Anna Christie opens, starring Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson The play opened to rave reviews on Jan. 14, 1994, at the Criterion Center in New York City. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Low temperatures Wednesday night and Thursday night dip to the mid-20s to mid-30s, which keeps late-season freezes in play, especially in the northern and western suburbs. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 Some folks are selected to stay onstage as the play recommences, seated among the cast as Thomas makes his plea to a town hall. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 The Banker's opening offer to Mariano was $49,000, which was a higher value than nine cases still in play and a lower value than three. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 Well, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is doing three productions revolving around Shakespeare’s play next season. David Lyman, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 This design was created in a deep-blue shade using Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD), which both preserves and enhances the depth of the pattern and maximizes the play of light. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
McCalla plays Marlena not as a victim but as an ever-resilient wife walking the tightrope of fidelity, fear and desperation. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 Rather, the audience hears distant screams and gunshots coming from inside the camp, as the family eats dinner, plays in the pool and tends to their garden. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 For the sixth time in the past eight seasons, Watt failed to play in more than half of his team’s games. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 It's been nearly 14 months since fans unknowingly saw the layout for the new spinoff being set up in the series finale when Molly Griggs played an adult version of Luna. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 On the lower level, there’s a bar with its own entrance, while on the top floor, diners can sit in a spacious winter garden and play a round of darts or chess in the game room. Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Rua started playing music in primary school, initially with the tin whistle and then guitar. Karen Bliss, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 Ohtani, a global sensation who signed a record 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers in December after playing six years with the Angels, could not be reached for comment. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Whether playing unison lines, trading off, or weaving intricate melodic tapestries, Goldings and Bernstein bring a distinctive sense of lyricism to their work. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'play.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English plega; akin to Old English plegan to play, Middle Dutch pleyen

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of play was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near play

Cite this Entry

“Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

play

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a brisk handling or using
the play of a sword
b
: the conduct, course, or action of a game
rain held up play
c
: a particular act or maneuver in a game
a great play by the shortstop
d
: one's turn in a game
it's your play
2
a
: exercise or activity for amusement
children at play
b
: absence of any bad intention
said it in play
c
: the act or an instance of playing on words : pun
d
: the act of playing a game and risking something on an uncertain event : gambling, gaming
3
a
: a way or manner of acting or proceeding : action, conduct
fair play
c
: brisk or light movement
the light play of a breeze
d
: freedom of motion
too much play in the steering wheel
e
: opportunity for action
the new job gave play to my talents
4
a
: the stage representation of an action or story
b
: a dramatic composition : drama

play

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to engage in sport or recreation and especially in activity for amusement
children playing
b
: to treat or behave lightly or without respect that is due
play with a new idea
c
: to make use of double meaning or the similarity of sound of two words for humorous effect : pun
d
: to handle something in an absentminded way : toy
played with the pencil
2
a
: to take advantage
played upon the people's fears
b
: to move swiftly or lightly
shadows playing on the wall
c
: to move freely
d
: to let go in a stream
hoses playing on the fire
3
a
: to sound in performance
listen to an organ playing
b
: to be staged or presented
what's playing at the movies
4
: to behave in a particular way
play safe
5
a
: to take part in
play cards
play ball
b
: to pretend to take part in the activities of
children playing house
c
: to do for amusement or from mischief
play a trick on someone
6
a
: to perform on or as if on the stage
play a part
b
: to act the part of
play the fool
7
a
: to contend against in a game
playing the Dodgers today
b
: to put or keep in action
play a card in a game
play a fish on a line
8
: to cause something to produce music or sound
play the piano
play a record
playable adjective

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