interplay

noun

in·​ter·​play ˈin-tər-ˌplā How to pronounce interplay (audio)
: interaction
the interplay of opposing forces
interplay intransitive verb

Examples of interplay in a Sentence

the interplay between the old and the new enjoys the interplay of three very different flavors
Recent Examples on the Web Underwater walls of glass in the swimming pool further enhance the interplay between interior and exterior spaces, while the extensive use of hardwoods and other natural materials, including verdant living walls of foliage, connects the home to its natural surroundings. Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024 Each edition explores the connection between the teacher’s cinematic oeuvre and its interplay with space, context, population and culture. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024 But at a deeper level, Parks is obsessed with the interplay between devastation and joy. Imani Perry Janina Edwards Krish Seenivasan Devin Murphy, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024 The subsequent damage to undersea cables from the ship’s anchor not only disrupted a significant portion of internet traffic between Asia and Europe but also highlighted the complex interplay between geopolitical conflicts and the security of global internet infrastructure. Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024 Hilarious, yes, but this installment also managed to highlight the interplay between the core five that would become a hallmark of the program. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 This discord underscored the complex interplay between environmental policy, trade dynamics, and geopolitical interests. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Mother-daughter narratives have as profuse a tradition, but with a key difference: In those stories, no matter how complex the interplay of competition and control and selfishness and sacrifice and ego, there’s the base line belief that a relationship is supposed to exist into adulthood. Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 And yet as much as the world is changing, espionage remains an interplay between humans and technology. William J. Burns, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'interplay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interplay was in 1862

Dictionary Entries Near interplay

Cite this Entry

“Interplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interplay. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

interplay

noun
in·​ter·​play ˈint-ər-ˌplā How to pronounce interplay (audio)
: mutual action or influence : interaction
interplay
ˌint-ər-ˈplā How to pronounce interplay (audio)
ˈint-ər-ˌplā
verb

More from Merriam-Webster on interplay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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