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

After ramping up its incentive program from $8 million five years ago, the Sooner State played host to FX’s The Lowdown and Reservation Dogs, Paramount+’s Tulsa King and the film Reagan. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

The turf racing is also high in quality as the New York grass plays host to the Fourstardave, Troy, and Christophe Clement Stakes to name just a few. — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Amerant Bank Arena retired the ice for hardwood Sunday afternoon, playing host to BIG3, the premier global 3-on-3 basketball league. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026

It’s steeped in so much history and has played host to some of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 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