play-by-play
adjective
ˈplā-ˌbī-ˌplā 
ˌplā-ˌbī-ˈplā
1
: being or giving a running commentary on a sports event
a radio play-by-play announcer
2
: relating each event as it occurs
play-by-play
noun
Examples of play-by-play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pat Summerall, a game analyst before moving to play-by-play, was a placekicker.
—
Richard Deitsch, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Dan Rusanowsky, the Sharks’ longtime radio play-by-play voice, also has a plaque in the Hall of Fame, as he was given the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2023.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
The game will air exclusively on NFL Network, with Adam Amin as the play-by-play announcer, Kurt Warner as the game analyst and Stacey Dales and Kristina Pink as the sideline reporters.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
As the big bad of the film, former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor was joined in the cast by such other figures associated with the fighting world as Hieron, UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, and UFC’s CEO and President, Dana White.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play-by-play
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Richard Deitsch, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Dan Rusanowsky, the Sharks’ longtime radio play-by-play voice, also has a plaque in the Hall of Fame, as he was given the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2023.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
The game will air exclusively on NFL Network, with Adam Amin as the play-by-play announcer, Kurt Warner as the game analyst and Stacey Dales and Kristina Pink as the sideline reporters.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
As the big bad of the film, former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor was joined in the cast by such other figures associated with the fighting world as Hieron, UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, and UFC’s CEO and President, Dana White.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play-by-play
Cite this Entry
“Play-by-play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play-by-play. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share