play host to

phrase

: to serve as a host for (someone or something)

Each year, the city plays host to the film festival for one week.

As travel to the Third World has expanded, so, too, has concern about the damage wrought by mass tourism on the people and places that play host to wandering North Americans and Europeans.

—Ira Silver

St. John's meets No. 3-ranked Duke and the Big East rival Miami on the road, and will play host to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 13 Connecticut and surging Seton Hall at the Garden.

—Jon Drape

The grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.

—Kay Clark

Examples of play host to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time of the opening, no specific timeline was disclosed for how long the store will occupy the location, but the shop is set to play host to a special installation surrounding November’s New York City marathon. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

For the first time in Sumrall’s career at Florida, the Gators play host to a top-10 team Saturday. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

And to do this in a city that plays host to one of the most formidable film cultures in the world! — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

There’s a logic to the everything store for television playing host to the show that honors all of television. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for play host to

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue