variants
or less commonly play-off
1
: a final contest, series of contests, or period of play to determine the winner between contestants or teams that have tied
a golf tournament decided by an 18-hole playoff
a sudden-death playoff
2
: a series of contests played after the end of the regular season to determine a championship
—usually plural except when used before another noun
Will you watch the playoffs?
got tickets to a playoff game
played off; playing off; plays off
1
a
: to set in opposition for one's own gain
—used with against
They have been playing him off against his old enemies.
b
: to set in contrast
chose a sweet wine to play off the sharp cheese
2
: to complete the playing of (an interrupted contest)
3
: to break (a tie) by a playoff
Examples of playoff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Advertisers can use such elements from recent content scenes including visual cues, tone and sentiment, enabling commercials to deliver timely messaging that plays off what’s on screen when viewers pause content.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playoff
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Noun
With Wednesday’s win in Miami, the Celtics have now won 17 of their least 20 games against the Heat (including the 2024 first-round playoff series between the two teams that Boston won 4-1).
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Advertisers can use such elements from recent content scenes including visual cues, tone and sentiment, enabling commercials to deliver timely messaging that plays off what’s on screen when viewers pause content.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playoff
Cite this Entry
“Playoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playoff. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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