interplay

noun

in·​ter·​play ˈin-tər-ˌplā 

: interaction

the interplay of opposing forces

interplay

ˌin-tər-ˈplā  ˈin-tər-ˌplā 

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

Disease risk arises from the intricate, dynamic interplay among many genes and variants, each influencing or counterbalancing the others, and sometimes triggering a cascade of effects. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Its diverse, otherworldly landscapes are the result of millennia of interplay between fire and ice. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026

The conciseness, the visual satisfaction, and the crucial interplay between image and word makes reading a good graphic novel—or, in this case, graphic memoir—an electrifying, transporting experience. —Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026

Monet’s Palazzo Ducale centers on the Venetian landmark rendered in diffused brushstrokes, with a dial that glows orange under UV light — a nod to the interplay of light and reflection in Monet’s work. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for interplay

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

Kids Definition

interplay

noun

in·​ter·​play ˈint-ər-ˌplā 

: mutual action or influence : interaction

interplay

ˌint-ər-ˈplā 

ˈint-ər-ˌplā

verb