Definition of game
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a(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
2a(1)
: activity engaged in for diversion or amusement : play
(2)
: the equipment for a game
3a
: a procedure or strategy for gaining an end : tactic
b
: an illegal or shady scheme or maneuver : racket
4a(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
game
adjective (1)Definition of game (Entry 2 of 4)
1a
: 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
game
verb
gamed; gaming; games
Definition of game (Entry 3 of 4)
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
2
: 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
4
archaic
: to lose or squander by gambling
game
adjective (2)Definition of game (Entry 4 of 4)
: lame
a game leg
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for game
The first known use of game was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century