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playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
Synonyms of playfulnext
1
: full of play : frolicsome, sportive
a playful kitten
2
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the name implies, there is no way for shoppers to know which of the reusable bags will be inside their mystery grab bag, though the majority of the bags feature playful state- (and some city-) themed designs. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025 BaubleBar’s selection of playful and elegant jewelry is 30 percent off right now. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025 Each is a spiraling rendition paying homage to the log’s playful roots. Ingu Chen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025 Held together by a wide black barrette, Gomez’s hair had a shiny quality to it with the ends flipped up for a fun, playful accentuation of the look. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for playful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of playful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playful. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

playful

adjective
play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
1
: full of play : fond of playing
a playful kitten
2
: humorous
a playful tone of voice
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on playful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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