play host to

idiomatic phrase

: to serve as a host for (someone or something)

Each year, the city plays host to the film festival for one week.

As travel to the Third World has expanded, so, too, has concern about the damage wrought by mass tourism on the people and places that play host to wandering North Americans and Europeans.

—Ira Silver

St. John's meets No. 3-ranked Duke and the Big East rival Miami on the road, and will play host to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 13 Connecticut and surging Seton Hall at the Garden.

—Jon Drape

The grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.

—Kay Clark

Examples of play host to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last season, Kansas City played host to the NFL Draft at Union Station. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

Amenities: Rooftop terrace, bar, living room, underground venue space, breakfast Bonus Tip: During the summer months, Mona’s rooftop plays host to Club Monamour, a rotating pop-up series of social gatherings and creative showcases from local artists and brands. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024

The seventh seed plays host to the eighth seed in a play-in game next Tuesday or Wednesday. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

Just 45 minutes from downtown Austin, the city of Bastrop is best known for its high concentration of historic buildings, but beyond the downtown core, the region’s sprawling forests and many water features play host to all sorts of native birds. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

On Tuesday, Mission Hills plays host to Vancouver (Wash.) Union (1-4) at 1 p.m., and LJCD is at home against Pacific Palisades (6-5) at 4 p.m. —Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2024

Biden played host to Varadkar at the White House and then the two attended a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol as the two countries celebrated a century of diplomatic relations. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2024

The most popular player in the world’s most popular sport is expected to wear the pink of Inter Miami FC this weekend as Sporting Kansas City plays host to a big-time happening at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Monday classes at Southern Illinois University have been canceled as the school plays host to a big public viewing event in its football stadium. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above