play-by-play

adjective

ˈplā-ˌbī-ˌplā How to pronounce play-by-play (audio)
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
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Attendees watched a video feed of the exercise occurring nearby on Pendleton’s Red Beach while a narrator gave a play-by-play of the action over a loudspeaker. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025 How to watch, listen, follow Panthers-Jets The Panthers-Jets game will be televised on FOX this week, with Chris Myers handling the play-by-play duties, Mark Schlereth as the analyst and Sarah Kustok as the sideline reporter. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025 Rich Eisen is on play-by-play, and Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner takes color commentary. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 Longtime play-by-play announcer Randy Hahn and color analyst Drew Remenda will have the call. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for play-by-play

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of play-by-play was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Play-by-play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play-by-play. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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