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
The good people of the Tri-state Area are starving for a championship, not just from the Knicks but from any of their major pro sports teams, and 2026 could be the year Midtown Manhattan finally plays host to a triumphant parade.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Now the spotlight shifts to Tuesday night when Kairat plays host to the biggest match in club history against 15-time Champions League winner Real Madrid.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Corona del Mar plays host to San Juan Hills on Friday at Newport Harbor High in one of the best games of the week.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs played host to the Ravens late Sunday afternoon and emerged with a convincing 37-20 victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play host to
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Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Now the spotlight shifts to Tuesday night when Kairat plays host to the biggest match in club history against 15-time Champions League winner Real Madrid.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Corona del Mar plays host to San Juan Hills on Friday at Newport Harbor High in one of the best games of the week.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
The Chiefs played host to the Ravens late Sunday afternoon and emerged with a convincing 37-20 victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play host to
Cite this Entry
“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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