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 Pacers built a 44-point lead before settling for an 80-39 halftime margin that matched the league’s previous best since detailed play-by-play was kept, set by the Cavs in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference finals against Boston. —Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Listen to this article 2 min For the first time since 1988, the New York Yankees have a new full-time play-by-play announcer on the radio. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025

Sister, Sinner - The Miraculous Life And Mysterious Disappearance Of Aimee Semple McPherson By Claire Hoffman Claire Hoffman begins Sister, Sinner, her new biography of McPherson, with a play-by-play description of the day the evangelist went missing. —Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025

The set of circumstances surrounding Tavera’s March 5, 2022 murder were horrifyingly bizarre, with jurors receiving a nuanced play-by-play at trial. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for play-by-play

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