playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : frolicsome, sportive

a playful kitten

2

: humorous, jocular

playfully

ˈplā-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun

Synonyms of playful

• amusing
• mischievous
• entertaining
• lively
• merry
• goofy
• frisky
• energetic
• sportive
• frolicsome
• antic
• happy
• delightful
• rollicking

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful.

He had a playful expression on his face.

a playful tone of voice

You're certainly in a playful mood!

She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Drawing Room and Game Room offer relaxed dining experiences in vintage surroundings, while Topgolf Swing Suites and a historic basketball court add to the hotel’s playful spirit. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

The anthem is a passing of the torch from original voice actress Auli'i Cravalho to new star Catherine Laga'aia, with a playful rap verse from Dwayne Johnson's Maui thrown in for good measure. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 July 2026

From the central open-air firepit of the Great Porch, to the playful tile spewed throughout various common spaces and the 65 cabins and cottages, the design of Wildflower is exquisite. — Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026

Experimenting with bold, playful trends is fun this time of year, but sometimes the chicest move is going back to basics, starting with all-white summer outfits. — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : fond of playing

a playful kitten

2

: humorous

a playful tone of voice

playfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun