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
See More
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Bloom, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The adjunct group now has organizers in all of the major divisions at the School of Cinematic Arts — from animation to producing to interactive media and games — and as of press time over 77 percent of the adjunct faculty had signed union cards.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023
In 1978, their game Simon was launched by Milton Bradley.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
The influential conservative activist group backed by billionaire Charles Koch -- long thought to be a Republican kingmaker -- now plans to pour millions of dollars into a ground game supporting her candidacy.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
This year’s cohort comprises creatives spanning craft specialisms from hair and make up, production, editing and games design, to performance, directing and cinematography and is from diverse ethnic backgrounds and abilities.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Nov. 2023
Soccer referees currently have the power to call fouls and dish out yellows for egregious offenses or red cards for the worst behavior that warrants immediate expulsion and shorthanded play for the offender's team for the rest of the game.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023
The 26-year-old Ohio native, who led the Bengals to the 2022 Super Bowl and last season's AFC title game, tore a ligament in his wrist that will likely require surgery, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
In the Division 1 game, Bonita Vista finished the season 19-1 with a 19-0 win over Torrey Pines, which finished 16-1.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023
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
The 11,000-square-foot facility includes several golf simulators across two floors and offers more than 50 courses for people to play on during game days and non-game days.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 16 June 2023
Artists and students were game to be extras, making their real art in the background.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 June 2023
Milroe did well in his eight games played last fall, which included one start against Texas A&M and a mid-game injury replacement for Bryce Young at Arkansas.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 13 Apr. 2023
Alex Knapp, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Beginning in 1989, gaming revenue in Vegas began to drop in inverse proportion to non-gaming revenue, which included money spent on entertainment, shopping and dining, said UNLV’s Feldman.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Of the 200 people surveyed in the United States, 90 percent snack while gaming, and the majority said chips make the most bothersome noise when another gamer is eating them.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The good Highly accurate tactile controls for gaming Readily converts your smartphone into a Nintendo Switch-like experience
Fun!
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023
The Steelers’ Pickett, 25, appears unlikely to hold up physically, game in and game out.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2023
At the same time, if AI's criteria and weighting become public, there's a risk that applicants will try to game the system.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
If cross progression were adopted more widely across the industry, the feature could do for gaming what wireless controllers did and literally untether you from your main console.
—WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023
Many workers become more occupied with gaming the tracking system than doing actual work.
—Anni Hallila, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
Noun
The combined viewership of a Dallas Cowboys-Washington Commanders game over the Thanksgiving weekend attracted one of the biggest audiences ever, topping 41 million viewers.
—David Bloom, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The adjunct group now has organizers in all of the major divisions at the School of Cinematic Arts — from animation to producing to interactive media and games — and as of press time over 77 percent of the adjunct faculty had signed union cards.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023
In 1978, their game Simon was launched by Milton Bradley.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
The influential conservative activist group backed by billionaire Charles Koch -- long thought to be a Republican kingmaker -- now plans to pour millions of dollars into a ground game supporting her candidacy.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
This year’s cohort comprises creatives spanning craft specialisms from hair and make up, production, editing and games design, to performance, directing and cinematography and is from diverse ethnic backgrounds and abilities.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Nov. 2023
Soccer referees currently have the power to call fouls and dish out yellows for egregious offenses or red cards for the worst behavior that warrants immediate expulsion and shorthanded play for the offender's team for the rest of the game.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023
The 26-year-old Ohio native, who led the Bengals to the 2022 Super Bowl and last season's AFC title game, tore a ligament in his wrist that will likely require surgery, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
In the Division 1 game, Bonita Vista finished the season 19-1 with a 19-0 win over Torrey Pines, which finished 16-1.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023
Adjective
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
The 11,000-square-foot facility includes several golf simulators across two floors and offers more than 50 courses for people to play on during game days and non-game days.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 16 June 2023
Artists and students were game to be extras, making their real art in the background.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 June 2023
Milroe did well in his eight games played last fall, which included one start against Texas A&M and a mid-game injury replacement for Bryce Young at Arkansas.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 13 Apr. 2023
Verb
The goal for all three domains is to ensure there are measurements that can’t be gamed to look good without improving people’s lives.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Beginning in 1989, gaming revenue in Vegas began to drop in inverse proportion to non-gaming revenue, which included money spent on entertainment, shopping and dining, said UNLV’s Feldman.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Of the 200 people surveyed in the United States, 90 percent snack while gaming, and the majority said chips make the most bothersome noise when another gamer is eating them.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The good Highly accurate tactile controls for gaming Readily converts your smartphone into a Nintendo Switch-like experience
Fun!
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023
The Steelers’ Pickett, 25, appears unlikely to hold up physically, game in and game out.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2023
At the same time, if AI's criteria and weighting become public, there's a risk that applicants will try to game the system.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
If cross progression were adopted more widely across the industry, the feature could do for gaming what wireless controllers did and literally untether you from your main console.
—WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023
Many workers become more occupied with gaming the tracking system than doing actual work.
—Anni Hallila, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
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 6 Dec. 2023.
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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