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

The play-by-play job ultimately went to Anish Shroff, a man, instead, in 2022. — Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Fox has exclusive English-language coverage of the World Cup final, with John Strong on the play-by-play call and Stu Holden as his analyst. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 17 July 2026

The real soccer heads also bristle at the nonstop, play-by-play commentating style of American announcers. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Anthony Volpe had to defend his character after the team’s play-by-play man, Michael Kay, retracted unfounded claims about the shortdtop’s unwillingness to play second base. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for play-by-play

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway