replay

1 of 2

verb

re·​play (ˌ)rē-ˈplā 

replayed; replaying; replays

transitive verb

: to play again or over

replay

2 of 2

noun

re·​play ˈrē-ˌplā 

plural replays

1

a

: an act or instance of replaying

… the overbearing demands of the world's television schedules mean that when a game is tied it's no longer possible to take it to a replay.

—Pete Davies

b

: the playing of a video that was previously recorded or broadcast

Find all the scores, stats, live stream replays and complete area coverage here.

—The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA)

see also instant replay

2

: repetition, reenactment

don't want a replay of our old mistakes

… supported massive infusions of money to save the world economy from a replay of the Depression.

—David Von Drehle

Their play is a replay, in fantasy, of their own experiences and the feeling they evoke.

—Penelope Leach

Synonyms of replay

Noun

• repeat
• repetition

Examples of replay in a Sentence

Verb

The tied game will be replayed on Saturday.

The game's highlights were replayed on the evening news.

The footage has been played and replayed on television.

Noun

They scheduled the replay for Saturday.

You could see the fumble on the replay.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Time for a change Davis also didn’t help himself in his postgame news conference after the VCU game, clips of which have been replayed endlessly. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026

Beckett’s patter of repetitions and reversals—as the tape is rewound, replayed, and punctured by Krapp’s speech in the present—resembles Lerner’s technique. —Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Noun

Now that this replay fantasy has collided with a more complex, indeterminate and difficult reality, Trump is unable to explain his objectives or even give the country a sense of when the war might end. —Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026

The stumble lasted barely a handful of seconds — and most viewers only caught it on replay. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1635, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing replay

• action replay
• instant replay

Rhymes for replay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret