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

Former Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer Grant Napear took to social media Sunday to reiterate a controversial message on the six-year anniversary of the infamous tweet that cost him his television and radio jobs. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026

And what better technique than a play-by-play alongside a steaming pot of award-winning chili! —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

After a stint on the Knicks pre- and post-game shows, Breen landed the Knicks radio play-by-play job in 1992-93 as a top MSG executive, Mike McCarthy, was a big fan. —Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Albert, 84, was New York’s lead play-by-play man from 1967 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2004. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 29 May 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