play host to
idiomatic 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
Ira SilverSt. 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
Jon DrapeThe grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.—Kay Clark
Kay ClarkExamples of play host to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chiefs play host to the Baltimore Ravens to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday in a late-afternoon clash.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Starting on Friday, the course will play host to the 12 best Americans and the 12 best Europeans, a group that includes Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and John Rahm.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys will play host to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
The town also plays host to the Fall Colors Car Show, one of three events (the other two being the Millpond Music Festival and the Bishop Pabanamanina Pow Wow) that take place during peak leaf-peeping weekends every year.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
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Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
Starting on Friday, the course will play host to the 12 best Americans and the 12 best Europeans, a group that includes Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and John Rahm.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys will play host to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
The town also plays host to the Fall Colors Car Show, one of three events (the other two being the Millpond Music Festival and the Bishop Pabanamanina Pow Wow) that take place during peak leaf-peeping weekends every year.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play host to
Cite this Entry
“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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