play host to
idiomatic phrase
: to serve as a host for (someone or something)
Each year, the city plays host to the film festival for one week.
As travel to the Third World has expanded, so, too, has concern about the damage wrought by mass tourism on the people and places that play host to wandering North Americans and Europeans.—
Ira Silver
Ira SilverSt. John's meets No. 3-ranked Duke and the Big East rival Miami on the road, and will play host to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 13 Connecticut and surging Seton Hall at the Garden.—Jon Drape
Jon DrapeThe grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.—Kay Clark
Kay ClarkExamples of play host to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By Anthropologie Rhea Cardigan $138 at Anthropologie The Anthropologie Rhea Cardigan has a playful look, in which a classic black and white cropped cardigan plays host to chic bow details.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2024
The Lions will play at the Packers in Week 9, but those are the only NFC North games before Week 11, when the Bears play host to the Packers.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 20 Oct. 2024
Wyoming was scheduled to play host to the Spartans on Saturday, but that match has already been called a forfeit.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
On Thursday, Nashville will play host to the second-ever People’s Choice Country Awards.
—Mikelle Street, WWD, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play host to 
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2024
The Lions will play at the Packers in Week 9, but those are the only NFC North games before Week 11, when the Bears play host to the Packers.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 20 Oct. 2024
Wyoming was scheduled to play host to the Spartans on Saturday, but that match has already been called a forfeit.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
On Thursday, Nashville will play host to the second-ever People’s Choice Country Awards.
—Mikelle Street, WWD, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play host to
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'play host to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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