gameplay

noun

game·​play ˈgām-ˌplā 

variants or game play

plural gameplays or game plays

1

: the characteristic way in which the action of a game (such as a video game) occurs or is experienced

Each game is cleanly done with smooth gameplay and colorful graphics.

—Joe Hindy

Featuring intuitive and addictive gameplay, the game is a lovely distraction from the troubles of the day.

—Amy Davidson

The unique game play led to players adopting all sorts of interesting strategies for getting a high score.

—Jeff Fulton and Steve Fulton

2

: the practice or activity of playing games (such as board games, card games, or video games) : gaming sense 2

Unlike the vast majority of previous studies on the effect of video games on wellbeing, the Oxford team were able to track actual gameplay, rather than relying on self-reported estimates.

—Alex Hern

While not all card shufflers operate more quickly than manual shuffling, in general, a card shuffler speeds up gameplay.

—Allen Foster

… a gaming chair that also massages your back, features an adjustable headrest and has an ergonomic design that allows for hours and hours of game play.

—Heather Quinlan

Examples of gameplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Though the 21-year-old creator got his start with high-energy NBA 2K and Fortnite gameplay streams on YouTube, much of his platform today lives outside of the gaming chair. — Leslie Horn Peterson, Time, 14 July 2026

Using that engine, the Neo Geo code then makes a kind of proto frame buffer out of the console’s fix layer, an area of display memory that’s usually used to display menus and HUD information on top of gameplay. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

That means fans who don't subscribe to Paramount+ or Pluto TV will still be able to catch a glimpse of the houseguests' unfiltered gameplay after the weekly aftershow on Big Brother’s YouTube channel. — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The role can also include assisting during tapings by providing last-minute replacement clues and helping with research needed for on-stage judging during gameplay. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for gameplay

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway