game

noun

ˈgām 

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

a(1)

: activity engaged in for diversion or amusement : play

(2)

: the equipment for a game

b

: often derisive or mocking jesting : fun, sport

make game of a nervous player

3

a

: a procedure or strategy for gaining an end : tactic

b

: an illegal or shady scheme or maneuver : racket

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

gamelike

ˈgām-līk 

adjective

see also:

on the game

Synonyms of game

• tournament
• competition
• event
• match

Choose the Right Synonym for game

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter.

fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of game in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes there would be groups of young men along the sidewalks by the entrance to the pool, playing a game with coins thrown against a wall. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

During these dry winter months, game viewing peaks. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

The Hurricanes then dropped Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens before rebounding to win the next four games and clinch the series in five. —Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026

Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more! —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Phrases Containing game

• ahead of the game
• a mug's game
• arcade game
• at the top of one's game
• a whole new ball game
• ball game
• beat someone at their own game
• big game
• board game
• card game
• collectible card game
• confidence game
• con game
• console game
• Cornish game hen
• drinking game
• early/late in the game
• fair game
• fight game
• game ball
• game bird
• game-changer
• game face
• game fish
• game hen
• game of chance
• game pad
• game plan
• game play
• game point
• game preserve
• game show
• game theory
• game warden
• give the game away
• got game
• guessing game
• head game
• home game
• massively multiplayer online game
• mating game
• middle game
• mind game
• mug's game
• Murphy game
• name of the game
• off one's game
• on one's game
• on the game
• on top of one's game
• parlor game
• party game
• passing game
• perfect game
• platformer game
• platform game
• play (a game of) cat and mouse
• play the game
• return game
• Rock Cornish game hen
• role-playing game
• shell game
• singing game
• skin game
• talk a good game
• the game is up
• the name of the game
• the only game in town
• trading card game
• video game
• waiting game
• war-game
• zero-sum game

Rhymes for game

• aim
• blame
• brame
• came
• claim
• dame
• fame
• flame
• frame
• haim
• lame
• maim

Kids Definition

game

1 of 4 noun

ˈgām 

1

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

2 of 4 verb

gamed; gaming

: gamble entry 1 sense 1a

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

game

intransitive verb

gamed; gaming

: to play for a stake : gamble