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

While the vast plains of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti play host to megafauna like the elephant, wildebeest and zebra, there’s a wealth of smaller creatures to spot during late night hours as well. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

Whether the occasion calls for breakfast with a backyard view or playing host to a group of friends for Sunday morning brunch, here’s to sparking a new appreciation for outdoor living and alfresco entertaining. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2025

Up next: Sporting KC plays host to Real Salt Lake on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s match kicked off a stretch in which Sporting plays four of five matches at Children’s Mercy Park. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025

The Las Vegas Aces (5-7) play host to the Indiana Fever (6-6) on Sunday in a battle of two teams whose 2025 seasons have not gone as well as either team anticipated. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for play host to

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue