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

St. 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

The grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.

—Kay Clark

Examples of play host to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most popular player in the world’s most popular sport is expected to wear the pink of Inter Miami FC this weekend as Sporting Kansas City plays host to a big-time happening at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Monday classes at Southern Illinois University have been canceled as the school plays host to a big public viewing event in its football stadium. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

While the Mandarin Oriental Residences and its amenities — which also include a steam room, meeting spaces, library and 24-hour concierge — will eventually be a residents-only affair, the space has played host to a number of high-profile guests in recent months aside from Yeoh. —Tim Chan, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024

The dazzling circuit is expected to play host to the country’s grand prix before the end of the decade and will include 21 corners and peak at more than 20 stories in the air. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024

The 49ers are set to play host to Rice at Halton on Wednesday — a team Charlotte needed overtime to beat after overcoming a 20-point deficit in regulation early in conference play. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Mar. 2024

Social media platforms play host to wild speculation about the princess’s whereabouts and reasons for altering the photo. —Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024

The Spartans will face Granada on Friday, while Amador (4-3, 0-1) will play host to Dougherty Valley. Pittsburg 8, Irvington 1 Paul Salazar drove in two runs as Pittsburg routed Irvington in a nonleague matchup despite having only three hits as a team. —Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024

The following month, Sporting KC will play host to Miami and Lionel Messi at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above