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

The Mayfair members’ club played host to over 200 of Swift’s concert crew, who partied alongside the star at the only nightclub ever frequented by the late Queen Elizabeth II. — Ben Jureidini, Vanity Fair, 15 Aug. 2026

Japan Japan has played host to a range of A-listers, including Elsa Hosk — who spent her babymoon there — and Kim Kardashian. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026

The Blazers will play host to the Spurs as part of the Thanksgiving Eve triple-header on ESPN. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The arena plays host to UConn basketball and hockey and is starting to attract a more robust lineup of concerts. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 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