sport

verb

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\ ˈspȯrt

sported; sporting; sports

Essential Meaning of sport

1 : to wear (something) in a way that attracts attention She showed up at the party sporting a bright red hat.

2 literary : to play in a happy and lively way The lambs sported [=frolicked] in the meadow.

Full Definition of sport

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : to amuse oneself : frolic lambs sporting in the meadow

b : to engage in a sport

2a : to mock or ridicule something

b : to speak or act in jest : trifle

3 [sport entry 2] : to deviate or vary abruptly from type (as by bud variation) : mutate

transitive verb

1 : to display or wear usually ostentatiously : boast sporting expensive new shoes

2 [sport entry 2] : to put forth as a sport or bud variation

sport

noun

Definition of sport (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : a source of diversion : recreation

b : sexual play

c(1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure

(2) : a particular activity (such as an athletic game) so engaged in

2a : pleasantry, jest

b : often mean-spirited jesting : mockery, derision

3a : something tossed or driven about in or as if in play

b : laughingstock

4a : sportsman

b : a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship a good sport a poor sport

c : a companionable person

5 : an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue

sport

adjective

variants: or sports

Definition of sport (Entry 3 of 3)

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports especially : styled in a manner suitable for casual or informal wear sport coats

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About sport

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Choose the Right Synonym for sport

Noun

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose. played cards just for fun jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing. hurt by remarks said only in jest sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone. teasing begun in sport led to anger game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun. made game of their poor relations play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief. pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of sport in a Sentence

Verb She showed up at the party sporting a bright red hat. from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort Noun She likes to play sport. Ice-skating with friends is my favorite sport.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Available in green or gray composite, the adventure vehicle will also sport an advanced energy management system to power onboard amenities efficiently, as well as a setup for water recycling. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2021 Betting big on depth Whether Gay starts or comes off the bench, Utah will now sport several luxury players coming in off the bench, who would start on several teams. — Morten Jensen, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021 During the Philly Naked Bike Ride, participants sport unique hats, glasses and outfits. — Editors, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2021 One more reason: LLWS teams no longer proudly sport their city’s name on their jerseys. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Aug. 2021 Mammals, on the other hand, sport a specialized tool kit of incisors for scraping, canines for puncturing and molars for grinding—an array that opened up new dietary niches. — David P. Barash, WSJ, 27 Aug. 2021 Kids sport the costumes of their favorite superheroes and princesses. — Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2021 Most residents of Kandahar sport the traditional dress favored by the Taliban. — BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2021 As a little boy, Chesley would sport camouflage shirts and other military-style clothing. — Phillip Jackson, baltimoresun.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The celebrities competing on the show this year come from a range of fields, including comedy, sport, acting and fashion design. — Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 14 Sep. 2021 The stars of the show Throughout the history of almost every sport, there’s been a distinct lack of inclusivity and representation. — Jonquil Hackenberg, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2021 Vijay Segar, 17, moved 70 miles from home to Osmanabad in eastern Maharashtra to join a wrestling training center in hopes of turning pro in the popular sport, known in Maharashtra as kushti. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2021 The Aussies argue that there can be no normal sport against a team from a country that discriminates against women. — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2021 The 18-year-old Raducanu was being hailed Sunday as the new queen of British sport — and perhaps the architect of one of the most unlikely sporting achievements of all time — by winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier. — Steve Douglas, ajc, 12 Sep. 2021 Lucha libre is a Mexican form of entertainment that is both sport and storytelling. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2021 Ernie was a three-sport star at the Danvers private school before graduating in 1954, then going on to a Hall of Fame coaching career for the Lawrence and Methuen track & field programs. — BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2021 The most straightforward bet in football or any other sport is simply the pick to win the game; however, odds may not always warrant a bet when looking to back the favorite in a lopsided matchup. — Esten Mclaren, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Gordon is a multi-sport athlete who competes in the 4x100, 4x200-meter relay and the triple jump in track. — Greg Riddle, Dallas News, 2 Sep. 2021 The win marks nine total Paralympic medals for the multi-sport athlete: The 32-year-old has medaled in rowing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and now road cycling. — Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 31 Aug. 2021 Take, for example, her impressive record as a multi-sport athlete, which originated out of a major setback. — Glamour, 27 Aug. 2021 The Madison Memorial multi-sport standout joins the Chiefs after seeing brief action for the Colts over the past two seasons. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2021 In 2006, voters turned down a $24.6 million bond referendum, which would have funded a new multi-sport recreation center at Oakton Park, as well as a new pool at Centennial and improvements to then-Senior Center kitchen. — Jennifer Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 24 Aug. 2021 On the offensive line and at middle linebacker is Aidan Megois, a junior who looks every bit as tough as his four brothers who passed through Madeira's multi-sport athletic system. — Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2021 In an effort to get him outside again, Denise worked with Make-A-Wish to get a multi-sport court built in the family’s yard. — Thuc Nhi Nguyen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2021 One was that the Bengals and the Reds were threatening to leave town unless the city provided each team with its own new facility to replace Cinergy Field, the generic, outmoded, multi-sport facility built as Riverfront Stadium in 1970. — Steven Litt, cleveland, 22 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sport.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near sport

sporran

sport

sportability

Statistics for sport

Last Updated

16 Sep 2021

Cite this Entry

“Sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport. Accessed 19 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for sport

sport

noun

\ ˈspȯrt

Kids Definition of sport

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : physical activity (as running or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure or exercise Skating is my favorite sport.

2 : a person who shows good sportsmanship He's a sport and doesn't mind losing. Don't be a bad sport.

3 : pastime, recreation

4 : fun entry 1 sense 3 He made sport of their embarrassment.

sport

verb

sported; sporting

Kids Definition of sport (Entry 2 of 2)

: to wear in a way that attracts attention He sported new sneakers.

sport

noun

\ ˈspō(ə)rt, ˈspȯ(ə)rt

Medical Definition of sport

: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue