1
a(1)
: a physical or mental competition conducted according to rules with the participants in direct opposition to each other
(2)
: a division of a larger contest
(3)
: the manner of playing in a contest
(4)
: a particular aspect or phase of play in a game or sport
a football team's kicking game
(5)
: the set of rules governing a game
(6)
: the number of points necessary to win
(7)
: points scored in certain card games (as in all fours) by a player whose cards count up the highest
b
games plural
: organized athletics
c(1)
: a field of gainful activity : line
the newspaper game
(2)
: any activity undertaken or regarded as a contest involving rivalry, strategy, or struggle
the dating game
the game of politics
also
: the course or period of such an activity
got into aviation early in the game
(3)
: area of expertise : specialty sense 3
comedy is not my game
2
3
4
a(1)
: animals under pursuit or taken in hunting
especially
: wild animals hunted for sport or food
(2)
: the flesh of game animals
b
: a target or object especially of ridicule or attack
—often used in the phrase fair game
c
archaic
: pluck
1
a
: willing or ready to proceed
were game for anything
b
: having or showing a resolute unyielding spirit
2
: of or relating to game
game laws
gamely
adverb
gameness
noun
gamed; gaming; games
1
: to manipulate, exploit, or cheat in (a system, a situation, etc.) slyly or dishonestly for personal gain
game the tax system
… a male bus driver who tried to game a drug test by using his wife's urine …—
Chuck Shepherd
Chuck Shepherd2
: to play video games
Globally [in 2019], more than two billion people play video games, including 150 million Americans (nearly half the country's population), 60 percent of whom game daily.—Ferris Jabr
Ferris Jabr3
4
archaic
: to lose or squander by gambling
: being a body part and especially a limb that is usually permanently impaired in function
Despite his eyeglasses and his game leg, early in 1900 [Erskine] Childers volunteered for the Boer War.—Timothy Foote
Timothy FooteWorking his rifle lever with daunting speed despite his game arm …—Ron Soodalter
Ron Soodalter
Synonyms
Examples of game in a Sentence
Noun
poker and other gambling games
She scored a goal to tie the game.
We played a few games of chess.
That was a good game!
She won the first two games, but lost the set and the match.
children playing at their games
They are known to play a very rough game.
She has a strong all-around game.
She needs to improve her game if she wants to win the championship.
a football team with a strong running game
Recent Examples on the WebJordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The awards categories span websites, video, advertising, media and PR, apps and software, social, podcasts, games, and AI, and metaverse and virtual.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
Nor has his unselfish winning aura, playing on four NCAA Tournament teams in four years, twice reaching the second week and last year coming one game short of a national championship.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
As for her throwback photo shared on Monday, the then-teens seemed to be at school on a game day.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Tight ends coach and run game coordinator Nate Potter, offensive line coach Tim Keane and new safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton will make $260,000 apiece this year.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
How to watch March Madness games can be watched live on CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV, Max, Paramount+ and the March Madness Live App.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Fire up some sing-a-long music, pack a bunch of yummy snacks, and get prepared with car games as your family peels out of the driveway.
—Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 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
Dan Heching, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
To warm up for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams, Gardner White is hosting a free pre-game celebration with football legend and 760 WJR SportsWrap host Lomas Brown and other Detroit football alumni.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2024
The retail giant will announce one new deal via QR code during each quarter of the game, as well as during pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage (seven in total).
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2023
In the film, Lawrence’s character, Maddie, appears fully naked on a beach — and the actor was fully game to do the comedic nude scene.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
Football rewind Narbonne rallied for a 22-21 win over Banning in a game that was marred by a post-game fight.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023
The pair have been seen walking together to interviews on game days and walking the sidelines as part of Sanders' pre-game preparations.
—Michael King, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Want to make it to the game after your pre-game party like these folks below?
—Peter Chakerian, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
According to the Brewers' roof policies, the club has sole discretion over starting a game with the roof opened or closed, but mid-game changes require consultation with the umpiring crew chief.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2023
Bethany Braun-Silva, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Another is that litigants can still try to game the system by filing their lawsuits in states from which appeals are heard by circuit courts known to have a particular partisan lean.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
More than 8 billion takedown requests, covering everything from gaming to music, have been made to Google.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024
Lately, however, celebrities and their stylists have found a way to game the system—by turning their weeklong rehearsals into a runway.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024
Recommended Trust How one Utah city bucks the divide over immigration
Dr. Loomis says that college admissions committees have realized that people game the system and that a return to tests might be a little less problematic.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
One or two players can game locally, and there's an online version that supports up to eight.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024
In recent years, USCIS found that the same applicant was being submitted by multiple companies in order to game the system and increase their chances of being selected.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
Instead, clever campaign strategists game the top-two system by trying to get the weakest would-be opponents on the November ballot.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
Rivera had not yet reported to the club by game time Tuesday and will likely be with them Wednesday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The awards categories span websites, video, advertising, media and PR, apps and software, social, podcasts, games, and AI, and metaverse and virtual.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
Nor has his unselfish winning aura, playing on four NCAA Tournament teams in four years, twice reaching the second week and last year coming one game short of a national championship.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
As for her throwback photo shared on Monday, the then-teens seemed to be at school on a game day.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Tight ends coach and run game coordinator Nate Potter, offensive line coach Tim Keane and new safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton will make $260,000 apiece this year.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
How to watch March Madness games can be watched live on CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV, Max, Paramount+ and the March Madness Live App.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Fire up some sing-a-long music, pack a bunch of yummy snacks, and get prepared with car games as your family peels out of the driveway.
—Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 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
Adjective
Other musical acts slated for Sunday’s big game in Las Vegas include Usher as the halftime show performer, along with pre-game performances from Andra Day, Post Malone and Reba McEntire.
—Dan Heching, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
To warm up for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams, Gardner White is hosting a free pre-game celebration with football legend and 760 WJR SportsWrap host Lomas Brown and other Detroit football alumni.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2024
The retail giant will announce one new deal via QR code during each quarter of the game, as well as during pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage (seven in total).
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2023
In the film, Lawrence’s character, Maddie, appears fully naked on a beach — and the actor was fully game to do the comedic nude scene.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
Football rewind Narbonne rallied for a 22-21 win over Banning in a game that was marred by a post-game fight.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023
The pair have been seen walking together to interviews on game days and walking the sidelines as part of Sanders' pre-game preparations.
—Michael King, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Want to make it to the game after your pre-game party like these folks below?
—Peter Chakerian, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
According to the Brewers' roof policies, the club has sole discretion over starting a game with the roof opened or closed, but mid-game changes require consultation with the umpiring crew chief.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2023
Verb
Note: many of these also work well as gaming chairs.
—Bethany Braun-Silva, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Another is that litigants can still try to game the system by filing their lawsuits in states from which appeals are heard by circuit courts known to have a particular partisan lean.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
More than 8 billion takedown requests, covering everything from gaming to music, have been made to Google.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024
Lately, however, celebrities and their stylists have found a way to game the system—by turning their weeklong rehearsals into a runway.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024
Recommended Trust How one Utah city bucks the divide over immigration
Dr. Loomis says that college admissions committees have realized that people game the system and that a return to tests might be a little less problematic.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
One or two players can game locally, and there's an online version that supports up to eight.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024
In recent years, USCIS found that the same applicant was being submitted by multiple companies in order to game the system and increase their chances of being selected.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
Instead, clever campaign strategists game the top-two system by trying to get the weakest would-be opponents on the November ballot.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'game.' 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 game, gamen "delight, amusement, play, contest, pursuit of animals in sport," going back to Old English gamen, gomen "amusement, jest, pastime," going back to Germanic *gamano- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German gaman "amusement," Old Norse gaman "sport, amusement"), of uncertain origin
Adjective (1)
derivative of game entry 1 (earliest in phrase to die game "to meet death resolutely")
Verb
derivative of game entry 1
Adjective (2)
of obscure origin
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)
Adjective (1)
1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb
1512, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective (2)
circa 1787, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of game was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing game
Dictionary Entries Near game
Cite this Entry
“Game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/game. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
game
1 of 4 noun1
a
: activity engaged in for amusement
b
: fun entry 1 sense 1, sport
make game of a nervous player
2
a
: a procedure or strategy for gaining an end : tactic
b
: a line of work : profession
3
a
: a contest carried on following set rules for amusement, exercise, or reward
b
: a division of a larger contest
c
: the number of points necessary to win
d
: the manner of playing in a contest
4
a
: animals pursued or taken by hunting
b
: the flesh of game animals
c
: an object of ridicule or attack
—often used in the phrase fair game
game
3 of 4 adjective
gamer; gamest
1
a
: full of spirit or eagerness : determined
game to the end
b
: willing or ready to go
2
: of or relating to animals that are hunted
game laws
gamely
adverb
gameness
noun
game
4 of 4 adjective
: lame entry 1 sense 1b
a game leg
Legal Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on game
Nglish: Translation of game for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of game for Arabic Speakers
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